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California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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ShawnStithDD002
David Dennis/All-Star Sports Photography
72
Montana St. MSU 6-5,0-0 Big Sky
74
Winner CSU Bakersfield CSUB 5-8,0-0 WAC
Montana St. MSU
6-5,0-0 Big Sky
72
Final
74
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
5-8,0-0 WAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Montana St. MSU 39 33 72
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 37 37 74

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

CSUB Downs Montana State in the Icardo Center



BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – A game that featured 22 lead changes and 18 tied scores came down to the final seconds on Thursday night as the CSU Bakersfield men's basketball team battled Montana State in the Icardo Center. Junior guard Taze Moore converted a pair of clutch free throws with 12 seconds remaining and the Roadrunners made one last defensive stop to defeat the Bobcats, 74-72.

After suffering losses in three-straight, hard-fought games, the `Runners enjoyed the fruits of their labor in the form of a thrilling victory. "We have been playing hard," Moore said when asked about CSUB's recent battles. "Now we are playing smart and we are playing together."

Rod Barnes, Head Coach of the `Runners, expressed a sense of relief after his squad pulled through in another knock-down, drag-out war: "So many times with this team, it felt like the last four or five minutes we had a chance to win the game and to actually get one of them feels really good…I thought guys stepped up when we really needed them to step up and as a result, we beat a good basketball team."

Neither team led by more than five points during Thursday night's contest and the game would come down to the final minute. CSUB was able to force a turnover on a shot clock violation with 49 seconds remaining and the score tied at 71-71. On the other end of the court, a flagrant foul was called on the `Runners in a strange play as the call sent the Bobcats'  top scorer, Harald Frey, to the free throw line. The Norwegian guard gave his team a one-point lead at the charity stripe while MSU maintained possession.

The `Runners got a defensive stop and center Ronne Readus came down with a rebound while getting fouled. With 14 seconds on the clock, Readus knocked down his first free throw to tie the game at 72 points apiece, but the junior missed his second shot. Moore got to the ball quicker than anyone and was fouled putting up a shot on the offensive rebound. The native of Southaven, Miss. hit both free throws to put the `Runners ahead, 74-72, with 12.5 seconds remaining.

Frey, the game-high scorer with 26 points on the night, was unable to get away from Moore's smothering defense on the final shot. MSU's guard forced up a prayer that came off the back iron as CSUB held on for the two-point victory over a solid visiting squad.

On the game, both team shot lights out from the field, with MSU narrowly outshooting CSUB, 51.1 percent to 50.9 percent. Bakersfield out-rebounded its visitor 30-25 and the `Runner bench outscored the Bobcat reserves 51-22.

Cam Allen, a junior guard, and Stith, a junior forward, have both battled injuries over the past couple weeks. Allen was held out most of the second half for precautionary measures, but helped the `Runners with 15 points, three assists, and three steals in the first half alone. Stith sat out the first 20 minutes, but dominated the paint in the second half to the tune of 11 points and five rebounds.

Junior wing Justin McCall chipped in 11 points against the Bobcats while co-captain Justin Edler-Davis posted a season-high 14 points to go with five boards. Point guard Czar Perry added seven assists and two steals for Bakersfield in the victory.

With the win, CSUB improved to 5-8 on the season. The `Runners have two games remaining before Western Athletic Conference play begins in early January. Before a bit of time off around Christmas, CSUB will head to Cal Poly on Saturday, Dec. 21, for a preview of a future Big West Conference matchup. Tip off in San Luis Obispo, Calif. is scheduled for 7 p.m.

~GoRunners.com~
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