CSUB Men to Host Cal State Fullerton on ESPNU

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – A big week has arrived for the CSU Bakersfield men's basketball team as the Roadrunners are preparing to host their first-ever nationally-televised game on the ESPN linear networks. Head Coach Rod Barnes is aiming his team's focus away from the TV set and back to the court, where the `Runners (10-5, 6-2 BWC) are preparing to face off against a solid Cal State Fullerton squad (4-5, 3-5 BWC).

CSUB and Cal State Fullerton will face off in a two-game series, Jan. 29 and 30, in Bakersfield's Icardo Center. Friday night's contest was picked up by ESPNU and will be nationally televised at 8 p.m. (PT). The `Runners and Titans will close out the series on Saturday with a 7 p.m. (PT) tipoff from the Valley Strong Court, back on CSUB's regular ESPN3 broadcast.

"There's a lot of excitement around [the ESPNU game] in our program, our athletics department, and our university in general," Barnes said. "I think our team really is in a good place and focused. I think they're more excited to be at home and hopefully redeem themselves after a loss."

The `Runners just returned from a two-week road swing during which CSUB swept Hawai'i in Honolulu before splitting a pair of games against UC Riverside in southern California last weekend.

"To get a split anytime you're playing in someone's home, it's always good," Barnes added. "In the first game, both teams are trying to figure each other out. We both had defensive-minded teams. After the first game, you get each other figured out and you get more familiar with each other."

Looking ahead to this weekend's matchup with Fullerton, Barnes outlined what he and his squad expect from their Big West foes: "They are a talented group. Their frontline guys are really active. One of their wings, Maddox, is a talented transfer who could go off in any game. They have a lot of pieces and play a similar brand of basketball to ours…We expect two hard-fought games because that's what [the Big West Conference] presents. There is so much balance in this league, there is not very much drop off from one team to another."

Cal State Fullerton split its home series with Hawai'i this past weekend in a pair of one-sided games. The Titans opened the weekend with a 16-point victory over the Rainbow Warriors before Hawai'i answered back on Saturday with a win of its own, 76-53. Fullerton is still finding its stride as the squad was only able to play one non-conference game due to cancelations.

Links to live broadcasts, both video and radio, as well as live stats are available at GoRunners.com/mbbLinks for both of this weekend's contests.

~GoRunners.com~

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