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Men's Basketball Team Photo 2018-19
David Dennis/All-Star Sports Photography

Men's Basketball

Men's Hoops Set To Start 2018-19 Season



BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Returning to postseason play is the focus of the CSU Bakersfield men's basketball team during the 2018-19 season. CSUB Head Coach Rod Barnes is ready to lead his Roadrunners into a new year next week.
 
Athleticism will be at the core of this year's team, a fast-paced offensive group with a knack for defense and hustle are the potential makings for another successful season according to Barnes. This edition of the squad is not as big as it was in 2017-18 with the tallest two `Runners measuring in at 6-foot-9, but Barnes is looking to burn CSUB's opponents with speed in 2018-19.
 
Barnes lost three starters from last year's squad, but he returns 67% of the team's scoring and 60% of the minutes played with a large group of underclassmen ready for the upcoming year with vital experience under their belts. "I think we have got some guys that have really grown," Barnes said during his preseason press conference. "We've got some guys that took another step. This may be the hardest working team, in the offseason, that I have ever coached."
 
Returners
 
The Roadrunners kick off the 2018-19 season with a talented and deep backcourt, returning four guards including senior Rickey Holden, redshirt senior Damiyne Durham, sophomore Jarkel Joiner, and redshirt sophomore Justin Edler-Davis.
 
A junior college transfer a year ago, Holden fit in the CSUB system seamlessly in 2017-18. The native of Laurel, Miss. was Bakersfield's most consistent contributor and finished the season second on the team in scoring (10.7 points per game) and assists (2.8 per game) while leading all `Runners and ranking fifth in the WAC with 1.3 steals per contest.
 
Durham enters the season with the opportunity to continue breaking school records. Already the CSUB record holder for single-season three-pointers made the sharpshooter needs to hit just 24 more treys to reset the career record (278, Kenny Warren, 1990-94), which has stood for 25 years. Durham also stands an outside shot at becoming the school's all-time career leader in points scored as he trails Bakersfield great Stephon Carter by 467 points entering the year.
 
After a fast start to his freshman season, Joiner will be looking to continue making waves in the WAC this year. The Oxford, Miss. native started 27 of CSUB's 30 contests as a rookie and ended the season third on the team in scoring with 10.4 points per game. Edler-Davis exploded for an outstanding WAC slate in 2017-18 and finished the year tied for the team-lead in rebounding. The guard/forward averaged 9.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per game against league opponents.
 
A pair of `Runner forwards are set to return to the court after sitting out last season as medical redshirt. Taze Moore and James Suber will wear CSUB Blue and Gold again and will look to contribute to the team's success, just as both did in 2016-17.
 
Greg Lee, Justin McCall, and Bray Barnes all look to be ready for increased playing time heading into the season. Redshirt freshmen Darrin Person Jr., Cartrell Thompson, and Jeremiah Dickerson all return for the `Runners as well.
 
Newcomers
 
Junior college transfers Darius Williams and Kevin McNeal will don the name of Bakersfield across their chests for the first time this season. Williams, who hails from Newark, N.J., was an All-American forward for Paris Junior College and adds height and length to the `Runner lineup. McNeal did not have to travel far to get to Bakersfield as the native of San Bernardino, Calif. transferred from San Bernardino Valley College. A 6-foot-5 guard with size and speed, McNeal brings two years of experience in which he averaged 17.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists for the Wolverines.
 
Also joining the `Runners this year is Richmond transfer De'Monte Buckingham. A 6-foot-4 guard who was the Atlantic-10 Rookie of the Year, Buckingham will have to sit this season out due to NCAA transfer rules, but will have two years of eligibility remaining. Barnes has already credited Buckingham's presence and leadership as an asset in practice.
 
Going For 900
 
CSU Bakersfield enters the 2018-19 season with a record of 886-495 (.641) all-time, putting the Roadrunners on pace to reach the program's 900th overall win this year. Entering its 48th season, the CSUB men's basketball team enjoyed great success in its NCAA Division II era.
 
Bakersfield has now amassed 23 seasons with 20+ wins, including twice in the last three seasons. Just 14 victories this year would put the `Runners at the 900-win milestone, a great accomplishment for a storied program.
 
Regular-Season Opener
 
The `Runners will kick off the regular season with a tough test when CSUB heads to Forth Worth, Texas to take on an AP Top 25 squad in TCU. The Horned Frogs will welcome Bakersfield to Schollmaier Arena Nov. 7. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. (CT) on Wednesday.
 
~GoRunners.com~
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Players Mentioned

Bray Barnes

#24 Bray Barnes

F
6' 5"
Redshirt Junior
Justin Edler-Davis

#10 Justin Edler-Davis

G/F
6' 4"
Redshirt Freshman
Damiyne Durham

#23 Damiyne Durham

G
6' 4"
Redshirt Junior
Greg Lee

#21 Greg Lee

F
6' 8"
Redshirt Freshman
Taze Moore

#3 Taze Moore

F
6' 5"
Sophomore
James Suber

#4 James Suber

F
6' 7"
Senior
Jarkel Joiner

#0 Jarkel Joiner

G
6' 1"
Freshman
Rickey Holden

#2 Rickey Holden

G
5' 10"
Junior
Jeremiah Dickerson

#5 Jeremiah Dickerson

G
5' 10"
Freshman
Justin McCall

#11 Justin McCall

G/F
6' 5"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Bray Barnes

#24 Bray Barnes

6' 5"
Redshirt Junior
F
Justin Edler-Davis

#10 Justin Edler-Davis

6' 4"
Redshirt Freshman
G/F
Damiyne Durham

#23 Damiyne Durham

6' 4"
Redshirt Junior
G
Greg Lee

#21 Greg Lee

6' 8"
Redshirt Freshman
F
Taze Moore

#3 Taze Moore

6' 5"
Sophomore
F
James Suber

#4 James Suber

6' 7"
Senior
F
Jarkel Joiner

#0 Jarkel Joiner

6' 1"
Freshman
G
Rickey Holden

#2 Rickey Holden

5' 10"
Junior
G
Jeremiah Dickerson

#5 Jeremiah Dickerson

5' 10"
Freshman
G
Justin McCall

#11 Justin McCall

6' 5"
Freshman
G/F
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