BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – In a rematch from a November meeting in the Great Alaska Shootout, the Roadrunner men's basketball team (6-6) completed a regular-season sweep over the Idaho Vandals (6-3) with a 66-55 victory in the Icardo Center. Four `Runners scored in double digits Saturday night while redshirt junior Damiyne Durham's 19 points led CSUB to the win.

"Yesterday's game helped Jarkel and Damiyne see that ball go in the hole," said Rod Barnes, Head Coach of the `Runners. "Today, they had confidence that they could make shots. We'll start off by trying to give our guys some rest. We're starting to kind of figure things out."

The Vandals jumped out to an early, 7-0 lead on the `Runners. CSUB battled back and found itself trailing 14-8, but went on a 15-0 run to pull ahead 23-14 with five minutes remaining in the first half. Durham had three triples in that span to spur the Bakersfield outburst. CSUB extended its lead to as many as 10 points, but a pair of three-pointers by Victor Sanders cut the `Runner advantage to 29-23 at the half.

Another fast start for Idaho helped the Vandals tie the game at 32-32 with just under 14 minutes left in the game. The `Runners responded with an 11-0 run of their own to gain some breathing room. Six straight points by Idaho's Victor Sanders would close the gap again.

With 5:09 left on the clock, a pair of free throws by Idaho's Perrion Callandret brought the Vandals within just three points. Junior guard Rickey Holden converted a three-point play on a layup "and-1" for CSUB before Durham knocked down a jumper. Holden quickly followed that up with a three-pointer that was the dagger in the game as CSUB took an 11-point lead with 3:12 remaining.

The `Runners held on for a 66-55 victory behind a team-high 19 points (7-15 FG, 5-11 3FG) from Durham, who also added six rebounds, two assists, and three steals in 37 minutes played. Freshman guard Jarkel Joiner chipped in 13 points for the `Runners while redshirt freshman Justin Davis had 10 points and four rebounds.

"Tonight, I thought Damiyne showed some maturity and did what we have been asking him to do, just play through the game," Barnes said. "He's a big reason why we won."

Holden was good for 10 points, four rebounds, and four assists on the night while redshirt senior Brent Wrapp had a similar line with eight points, four rebounds, and four assists. As a team, the `Runners shot 40% (23-of-57) from the field and 42% (10-of-24) from behind the arc. Idaho posted similar numbers (38% FG and 40% 3FG) but the CSUB defense forced 27 turnovers, a season-high, to hold the Vandals down.

The `Runners will stay home next week and start preparing for their next rematch. Georgia Southern (7-2) will come to Bakersfield on Dec. 16 for its road leg of the home-and-away. The Eagles hosted CSUB on Nov. 13 when the `Runners fell 77-53 in Statesboro, Ga. Next weekend's game is set for a 2 p.m. tipoff as part of a men's and women's basketball doubleheader at the Icardo Center.

~GoRunners.com~