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CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners vs Idaho Vandals at Icardo Center
David Dennis/All-Star Sports Photography
46
St. Katherine SK 0-3
87
Winner CSU Bakersfield CSUB 3-2,0-0 Big West
St. Katherine SK
0-3
46
Final
87
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
3-2,0-0 Big West
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
St. Katherine SK 24 22 46
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 39 48 87

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Twelve `Runners Score In 41-Point Rout

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Coming off back-to-back days of intense scrimmaging before an unexpected game was announced 22 hours prior to tipoff, the CSU Bakersfield men's basketball team entered Saturday afternoon's matchup against Saint Katherine with weary legs. Pushing through, the Roadrunners used a second-half surge to pull away from their visitors and earn an 87-46 victory in the Icardo Center.

"I thought we had some guys who came prepared to play tonight and I thought they did a great job," said Rod Barnes, Bakersfield's tenth-year Head Coach. "We're playing a lot of guys and each night it just depends, it could be a different guy. I'm proud of this team and also thankful for all of the people that put the game on."

Redshirt senior Taze Moore led the `Runners with a season-high 19 points while also chipping in four rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. Making his CSUB debut, mid-year transfer Shaun Williams tallied 17 points and a game-high five assists to help Bakersfield defeat Saint Katherine.

The `Runners outrebounded the Firebirds 38-24 and enjoyed 62 of their total points coming off the bench. CSUB shot lights out from the floor (.563) and finished the game 11-of-22 from three-point range. In what will likely be an outlier on the season, there were a mere 12 total free throws shot in Saturday's contest with CSUB going 4-for-7 from the charity stripe and USK making 2-of-5.

First Half

The `Runners shook off the early rust and took a lead, 15-13, just over ten minutes into the game on Shawn Stith's driving layup. Bakersfield never looked back and turned up the defensive intensity down the stretch to go on a 9-0 run and take a 39-24 lead into halftime.

Nine different `Runners scored in the opening period as Barnes continued to utilize his deep roster. Moore, a native of Southaven, Miss., tallied nine points to lead all scorers in the first half. Williams, who came to CSUB from Kansas State last December, contributed right away, adding eight points and three assists. CSUB outrebounded Saint Katherine 21-13 and the `Runners outscored the Firebirds 22-8 in the paint.

Second Half

The Bakersfield defense caused major problems for Saint Katherine, forcing four turnovers in the first five minutes of the period as CSUB went ahead 53-30. In the middle of the second period, the `Runners used a 24-0 run to take their biggest lead of 43 points and the home team closed out the game with an 87-46 victory.

Barnes enjoyed seeing his deep bench contribute on Saturday evening. Every man on the CSUB roster played at least seven minutes and 12 different `Runners made at least one basket. Bakersfield forced Saint Katherine into 25 turnovers while making 13 steals on the game.

Stith, a 6-foot-8 forward, chipped in 10 points for CSUB while senior center Ronne Readus continued his consistent play with seven points, five rebounds, and a block. Redshirt senior De'Monte Buckingham quietly tallied five points, four rebounds, two steals, an assist, and a block in 22 minutes.

Next Week

After Saturday's game, the `Runners (3-2) hopped in the bus and headed off for their two-game road trip. CSUB is slated to take on Stanford (4-2) on Dec. 21 in Santa Cruz, Calif. before heading south to face Pepperdine (4-4) on Dec. 23.

~GoRunners.com~
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