`Runners to Host South Dakota State Saturday

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – On the heels of an impressive performance in its regular-season opener, the CSU Bakersfield men's basketball team is preparing to host a tough opponent this weekend. On Saturday, Nov. 9, the Roadrunners will welcome South Dakota State to the Icardo Center as part of the Western Athletic Conference-Summit League Challenge.

"This game will be a test for us," said Rod Barnes, CSUB's ninth-year Head Coach. "They are a really good team that is well coached and has tradition and history, especially over the last 6-8 years…This game will give us some kind of signal of where we are now, and we need that."

The WAC-Summit League Challenge began last year as an initiative to bring the two leagues together and develop some friendly, cross-conference rivalries. Last December, the `Runners kicked off the Challenge with a road game against South Dakota, which the host Coyotes won. In 2019-20, CSUB will be looking to earn a home win against a strong SDSU squad.

South Dakota State (2-0) has to reshape itself this year after the loss of All-American Mike Daum, who signed a Summer League contract with the Portland Trailblazers after graduation. The Jackrabbits welcomed in junior college transfer Douglas Wilson to help fill the void left by Daum. A 6-foot-7 forward from Des Moines, Wilson has averaged 18.4 points per game including 24 points against WAC member UT Rio Grande Valley. Wilson's efforts helped lead SDSU to a 70-57 win over the Vaqueros on opening night.

The Jackrabbits went 24-9 last season and were one of several CSUB opponents this season that competed in postseason play a year ago. SDSU earned a spot in the 2019 National Invitational Tournament and put up a good performance despite falling to the Texas Longhorns on the road, 79-73.

The `Runners and Jackrabbits will tip off the WAC-Summit League Challenge matchup at 7 p.m. (PT) on Saturday night. The Icardo Center is expected to be rocking during the game between these two successful mid-major programs.

Season tickets for CSUB men's basketball games are still available while tickets for Saturday's game can be purchased at the door or ahead of time at GoRunners.com/tickets. Fans who cannot make it out to the Icardo Center can follow along at home as the game will be broadcasted live via ESPN+. Links to the broadcast as well as radio feed and live stats are all available on the CSUB men's basketball schedule page.

~GoRunners.com~

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