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CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners vs Bethesda at Icardo Center
David Dennis/All-Star Sports Photography
60
Winner CSU Bakersfield CSUB 8-4,4-1 Big West
55
Hawaii Hawaii 3-2,1-2 Big West
Winner
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
8-4,4-1 Big West
60
Final
55
Hawaii Hawaii
3-2,1-2 Big West
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 28 32 60
Hawaii Hawaii 23 32 55

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

`Runners Hold Off 'Bows For 60-55 Road Win

HONOLULU – A physical battle raged inside the Stan Sheriff Center Friday night and the visiting CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners prevailed in their Big West Conference road game against Hawai'i (3-2, 1-2 BWC). CSUB (8-4, 4-1 BWC) overcame an early deficit, earned a five-point halftime lead, and held off the resilient Rainbow Warriors for a 60-55 victory.

"We got off to a slow start, but we felt like we were getting what we wanted when we didn't turn the ball over." said Rod Barnes, Bakersfield's tenth-year Head Coach. "I thought our guys were not locked in…Our bench did a great job of encouraging each other and telling them we were going to be alright."

For the seventh time in 12 games this season, the `Runners held their opponents to 55 points or less as Barnes' defensive philosophy continued to shine. CSUB outshot Hawai'i from the field, 41 percent vs. 33 percent, and from three-point range, 33 percent vs. 20 percent. With the win, Bakersfield now has a Big West-leading four conference victories with UC Santa Barbara one win back at 3-2.

CSUB was led by a pair of seniors Friday night in forward Shawn Stith and guard Taze Moore. Stith, a native of East Oakland, Calif., finished the evening with a game-high 13 points to go with five rebounds and two assists. Moore, who hails from Southaven, Miss., tallied 10 points, nine boards, and two assists of his own.

Stith's presence in the paint proved to be a problem for UH and Barnes described the big man's effort: "Even though he missed some shots, I thought he did a great job…We just continue to believe in each other and go to him. He was not very confident to start the year and I think he's gaining confidence. I thought he had his best game this year on both ends of the floor tonight."

First Half

Trailing 14-8 early in the game, CSUB tied the score with a 6-0 run while holding UH scoreless for over a five-minute stretch. A Shaun Williams three-pointer with 4:24 remaining gave Bakersfield its first lead at 19-18.

Stith's 6-foot-8, 265-pound presence in the paint proved to be troublesome for UH down the stretch as Bakersfield gained a bit of breathing room on his offensive efforts. The `Runners led by as many as seven points in the half and went to the locker room with a 28-23 lead.

Stith and fellow senior Moore both finished the first half with six points. Eight different `Runners scored in the period while the CSUB defense enjoyed a 7-2 advantage in steals compared to its host. Bakersfield held Hawai'i to just 33 percent shooting in the first half while the `Runners knocked down 41 percent of their own shots. One of the best rebounding teams in the country, CSUB found itself at a 20-15 disadvantage in the category at the break.

Second Half

Hawai'i continued to hang around with the `Runners, tying the score twice in the first ten minutes. With just under seven minutes left on the clock, a UH three-pointer but the 'Bows ahead 49-47, but Justin Edler-Davis responded on the other end with a three of his own to give the `Runners back the lead.

The 'Bows pulled within one point, 56-55, on a Casdon Jardine three-pointer at 1:44, but the `Runners were determined to not let their hosts regain the lead. A pair of offensive rebounds in the paint led to a Justin McCall putback jumper that pushed CSUB's lead back out to three points with 48 seconds left on the clock. Hawai'i's late three-pointer was well-defended and Moore knocked down two clutch free throws with 18 seconds remaining to ice the game. Bakersfield held on for the five-point road victory on the strength of another solid defensive performance.

Tomorrow

The `Runners and Rainbow Warriors will return to the Stan Sheriff Center in less than 24 hours to close out the Big West series. Saturday night's game will once again tip off at 9 p.m. (PT) and `Runner fans can follow the action live on BigWest.TV or listen to Isaac Lowenkron calling action courtside on KernRadio.com. Links to both options are available at GoRunners.com/mbbLinks.
 
~GoRunners.com~
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