BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The CSU Bakersfield men's basketball team welcomes Western Athletic Conference rival Grand Canyon to the Icardo Center on Saturday night, Feb. 17 for the WAC Game Of The Week.
 
GCU comes to Bakersfield with a 17-9 record overall and a 6-4 conference record, good enough for fourth place in the WAC.  The Lopes are led by Joshua Braun's 13 points a game and Keonta Vernon is averaging almost nine points a game and leads GCU in rebounding at seven a game.
 
Both CSUB and GCU are on two game losing streaks as both lost to UTRGV and first place New Mexico State last week.
 
The `Runners have four players averaging double figures in scoring for the season, but junior Damiyne Durham has caught fire during WAC play and is averaging 13.5 points a game.  Freshman Jarkel Joiner is averaging almost 11 points a game and is grabbing 4.5 rebounds during WAC play.
 
'Runners Men's Basketball Head Coach Rod Barnes was asked what he has seen on film about Grand Canyon.  "GCU is deep.  They can play big and they're a good defensive team.  They have guards that are 6' 5" & 6' 6".  Our guards are going to have to rebound the basketball well." 
 
Coach Barnes was asked in his weekly press conference which players he thought could break out to finish the season, similar to how Shon Briggs did during the "Runners NIT run last season.  Barnes said, "I can see a few.  But Jarkel (Joiner) can always breakout.  Justin Davis as well.  But Durham is turning into the basketball player we always thought he could be and he has been our most consistent scorer the last five or six games."
 
Both teams have four games remaining before the WAC Tournament takes place in Las Vegas Mar. 8-10, but two of those four remaining games will be against each other.  CSUB and GCU will finish regular season play against each other at Grand Canyon Mar. 3.