BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The CSU Bakersfield men's basketball team will travel to Western Athletic Conference rival UMKC on Thursday, Jan. 18 with both teams looking for their first conference win of the year.
 
The Roadrunners and the Kangaroos both come into the game with an 0-3 WAC record and a victory here could really jump start CSUB's conference season. 
 
The `Runners are coming off a tough home loss to New Mexico State and the Aggies are tied for first place in the WAC early on.
 
UMKC enters Thursday with a 5-14 record overall and have lost 9 of their last 11.  The Roos most recent game was a heartbreaking loss on the road at WAC rival Seattle U 77-75 on Saturday.
 
CSUB swept UMKC in both conference games last season.  The `Runners won by 11 at UMKC and then won by nine when they hosted the Roos near the end of the season. 
 
Broderick Robinson leads UMKC in scoring at 12+ a game and also is grabbing 4.9 rebounds a game, which is also a team high.  CSUB has four players averaging more than 10 points a game and senior Shon Briggs is one of those four and he is also leading the team in rebounding at 5+ boards a game.
 
CSUB will tipoff in Kansas City at 7 p.m. central time on Thursday and then will have a short turnaround, with a travel day to Chicago on Friday and will play at Chicago State on Saturday at 2 p.m. central time.

CSUB men's head basketball coach Rod Barnes broke down both teams the `Runners will see on the road trip this weekend.  First, UMKC, Coach Barnes said, "UMKC has been playing well.  They are a small team.  Very guard oriented and try to get to the basket.  They will sometimes full court press, but they're a young team too."  

"Chicago State has had some struggles this year" Coach Barnes said.  "They always fight us tough and always play hard.  But they always play us hard in Chicago and they always play hard on their home floor."