`Runners to Open CIT Thursday at Cal State Fullerton

Follow @CSUB_MBB

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The 2018-19 men's basketball season marches on for CSU Bakersfield as the Roadrunners are preparing to take on the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). CSUB will head to Cal State Fullerton on Thursday, Mar. 21, for a first-round matchup at 7 p.m. in Titan Gym.

"I'm excited for our team to get the chance to play again," said Rod Barnes, Head Coach of the `Runners. "I think our guys are really excited about playing and are looking forward to it. As a coach, I'm always ready to coach…To be playing Thursday night is an exciting time for me and I think our team feels the same way."

The `Runners and Titans are meeting for the 20th game in the all-time series. Cal State Fullerton currently owns a 6-13 advantage in the series, but the `Runners have won four of the last five contests. CSUB and Fullerton have not met since the 2012-13 season when the Titans earned a 12-point victory in Bakersfield.

Cal State Fullerton (16-17, 10-6 Big West) is coming off of a 92-64 loss in the finals of the Big West Tournament to UC Irvine. The Titans pulled out an overtime victory over UC Davis in the first round before knocking off UC Santa Barbara in the semis to reach the final.

When asked if Cal State Fullerton's big loss in the Big West final gave CSUB an advantage, Barnes said he knows the Titans will be ready to go: "The thing about postseason play, it could go either way. Obviously, they are a talented team to have made the finals. They have got some really players and their coaches does a great job. I'm mostly concerned about our team."

The Titans are led by a pair of top-tier scorers in Khalil Ahmad (18.2 points per game) and Kyle Allman (17.7 points per game). Jackson Rowe is a 6-foot-7 forward who averages double-digits in scoring and nearly eight rebounds a game. Junior guard Austen Awosika runs the point for Fullerton to the tune of nearly four assists per contest.

The `Runners and Titans will compete in the CIT's Riley Wallace Classic on Thursday with both looking to take home the trophy associated with the first-round victory. The winner of Thursday night's matchup will advance to the second round but will not know its opponent until the teams have been reseeded and shuffled around.

For the most up-to-date information on Bakersfield's journey through the CIT, visit CSUB's tournament central page and follow the `Runners on Twitter @CSUB_MBB (link above).

~GoRunners.com~

Print Friendly Version