`Runner Men Headed to UTRGV and NMSU

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – A 2-0 start to Western Athletic Conference play got CSU Bakersfield men's basketball team off to a great start and the Roadrunners are set to take on their next challenge. This week's hurdle features the first two road games of league play for CSUB, at UT Rio Grande Valley and NM State.

"UTRGV is going to depend on getting into the open floor, trying to take advantage of the numbers, and trying to get as many possessions off steals and turnovers as possible," said Rod Barnes, Head Coach of the `Runners. "New Mexico State is one of those teams that are capable of going either way. They can go small or big. They can play zone, press you, wear you down. They are deep, athletic, and big."

UTRGV (9-8, 1-0 WAC) kicked off WAC play with a come-from-behind victory over the newest conference member, California Baptist. The Vaqueros' offense is not as potent as it has been in recent past, but UTRGV has buckled down on the defensive end, allowing opponents to average just 70.6 points per game compared to 78.3 last season.

Lesley Varner II (12.4 points per game) and Terry Winn III (11.6 points per game) pace the Vaquero offense, which takes care of the ball in the frontcourt. All-time, CSUB and UTRGV have met 15 times since their first-ever matchups in 2008. Bakersfield holds a slim, 8-7 lead after UTRGV swept the regular-season series last year, but the `Runners had won six-straight games prior to that and look to get back on track in Edinburg, Texas on Thursday.

NM State (11-4, 0-1 WAC) continues to be a perennial force in the conference, but suffered a surprising loss on the road at California Baptist last week. With a deep squad, the Aggies will be looking to right their course when CSUB comes to Las Cruces on Saturday. NMSU has four student-athletes averaging 9.7 points per game while holding opponents to 67.5 points a contest on the defensive end.

While the `Runners have had some recent success in the series, NMSU dominated the two teams' meetings early on. The Aggies hold a 15-2 record against CSUB all-time and have taken the last three games from Bakersfield.

CSUB and UTRGV are scheduled for a 5 p.m. (PT) tipoff in Texas on Thursday, Jan. 10, while the `Runners and Aggies will jump at 3 p.m. (PT) on Saturday, Jan. 12. Both games will be streamed live on the WAC Digital Network. Links to the video and radio broadcasts as well as live stats are available on the CSUB men's basketball schedule page. As is always the case, fans can follow along with live updates via Twitter (link above).

~GoRunners.com~

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