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California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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GregLeeNE01
Nick Ellis
59
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 10-13,4-4 WAC
70
Winner UTRGV UTRGV 7-14,3-5 WAC
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
10-13,4-4 WAC
59
Final
70
UTRGV UTRGV
7-14,3-5 WAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 34 25 59
UTRGV UTRGV 29 41 70

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Second-Half Surge Sends UTRGV Past Bakersfield



EDINBURG, Texas – CSU Bakersfield earned a halftime lead over UT Rio Grande Valley in Saturday night's Western Athletic Conference road game thanks to a hot offensive start. The visiting Roadrunners were unable to keep the fire going in the second half and eventually fell to the Vaqueros, 70-59, in the UTRGV Fieldhouse.

"It's a disappointing loss," said CSUB Head Coach Rod Barnes. "We came off a great effort against New Mexico State, but we have to figure this out…They were way more aggressive than we were. We were not tough and that's my responsibility…Our performance tonight wasn't indicative of the kind of work we have done, the players we have, or the coaches we have."

On the game, junior forward Greg Lee paced the `Runners with 18 points and six rebounds. Junior center Ronne Readus chipped in seven points and five rebounds off the bench while point guard Czar Perry added 11 points, three rebounds, and two assists.

CSUB started the game hot, shooting 52 percent from the field in the first half. The `Runners were unable to keep that momentum going, converting on just 25 percent of their shots in the second period. Bakersfield also suffered a large disparity in free throws, sinking 13-of-15 of their own, but watching UTRGV make 29-of-45 on the night.

The `Runners came out of the gate hot, jumping out to an 11-2 advantage over their hosts. Bakersfield continued to surge and eventually led by as many as 11 points at 23-12. UTRGV answered back with a 10-2 run to pull within three points at 25-22 before Lee cut off the spurt with his second jumper of the game.

Lee heated up down the stretch, scoring all of his game-high nine points over the final eight minutes of the first period. The junior forward capped his strong, first-half performance by hitting a deep three-pointer just before time expired. The shot sent Bakersfield to the locker room with a 34-29 advantage.

CSUB tallied 11 assists on its 14 first-half field goals while shooting 52 percent from the field. Bakersfield's defense limited UTRGV to just 36 percent shooting in the opening 20 minutes, but the Vaqueros kept the game close thanks to nine made free throws.

UTRGV used a 12-2 run to take a 41-36 lead over CSUB in the first five minutes of the second half. After 10 minutes during which neither team gained much ground, the Vaqueros surged to a 58-47 lead with just under five minutes left in the game. UTRGV led by as many as 13 points at 64-51 and the `Runners were unable to close the gap down the stretch. The host Vaqueros held on for a 70-59 victory in the UTRGV Fieldhouse.

The `Runners (10-13, 4-4 WAC) have wrapped up in their time in the Southwest and they will return to Bakersfield for a few days. CSUB will then hit the road for a quick bus trip down to Riverside, Calif. for a Feb. 6 rematch with California Baptist (16-6, 6-2 WAC). At the start of WAC play in January, CBU defeated CSUB in the Icardo Center, 83-75.

~GoRunners.com~
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