Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

Next Event

CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners vs Idaho Vandals at Icardo Center
David Dennis/All-Star Sports Photography
50
Cal Poly CPO 2-6,0-2 Big West
65
Winner CSU Bakersfield CSUB 7-4,3-1 Big West
Cal Poly CPO
2-6,0-2 Big West
50
Final
65
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
7-4,3-1 Big West
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Cal Poly CPO 23 27 50
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 32 33 65

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

`Runners Race Away For 250th Win In Icardo Center

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – A tightly-contested game finally broke open in the final five minutes as the CSU Bakersfield men's basketball team finished off its Big West Conference sweep of the Cal Poly Mustangs. The Roadrunners tallied their 250th all-time victory in the Icardo Center with the 67-50 effort Saturday night.
 
"We're always glad to win, especially here at home," Rod Barnes said of his squad's victory. "We built our program on defense, so how can I complain? Again, I think it shows a lot of room to improve, but I think we did what we needed to do to win. That had a lot to do with our veterans and being in situations like this before."
 
Barnes went on to discuss what has stood out the most on the way to the 250 wins in the building, 85 of which have come during Barnes' tenure: "I have to thank our fans and the community here in Bakersfield. They have supported us and they make this a tough place to play. There has always been a lot of pride in this program, from the former players and former coaches, to protect this place."
 
During this COVID-impacted season, Barnes continued to express his eagerness to see fans back in the Icardo Center next season.
 
Another outstanding defensive effort from the `Runners and a pair of redshirt seniors' offensive outburst fueled Saturday night's win for Bakersfield. CSUB, one of the top defensive teams in the country, held its opponent to less than 55 points for the sixth time in 11 games this year.
 
A guard/forward out of Southaven, Miss., Taze Moore exploded for 18 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Fellow senior De'Monte Buckingham added 13 points, seven boards, and three assists of his own in the Icardo Center. Another pair of seniors in Justin Edler-Davis (12) and Justin McCall (11) both chipped in double-digit scoring efforts as well.

First Half

After a tight start to the contest, six-straight points from Moore, all in the paint, helped Bakersfield open up a 21-14 lead with five and a half minutes left in the period. With thirty seconds remaining, Moore buried a corner three to put the `Runners up 11 and Bakersfield eventually took a 32-23 lead into the locker room.
 
CSUB enjoyed hot shooting efforts from Moore (5-for-7, 11 points) and Buckingham (4-for-6, nine points) in the opening period. Bakersfield dominated the paint, 16-8, and the boards, 22-14, along the way. The `Runners also enjoyed an 18-9 advantage in bench production compared to the visiting Mustangs.

Second Half

The pace of play slowed to a crawl as both teams reached single bonus in the middle of the second half. Bakersfield maintained its lead, then began pulling away in the final five minutes thanks to some sparkplug plays by San Diego native Edler-Davis. A shot clock beating three-pointer, followed by a putback dunk from Edler-Davis and then another three-pointer all helped CSUB surge ahead to a 59-44 lead. The `Runners finished out the Big West sweep with a 67-50 victory.
 
A total of eight `Runners scored on Saturday night while point guard Shaun Williams addied seven points and four assists off the bench. Edler-Davis pulled down six more rebounds and is steadily climbing towards the 500-rebound milestone.
 
Bakersfield held Cal Poly to just 32 percent shooting from the field and 14 percent from behind the arc on the game. Meanwhile, the `Runners converted on 43 percent of their shots and 37.5 percent from distance. CSUB also outrebounded its opponent 43-34 including 15 offensive rebounds, a category in which the squad leads the nation.
 
Next Week

CSUB (6-4, 2-1 BWC) will hit the road for a pair of road trips over the next two weeks. The `Runners will start the road tilt in paradise, taking on Hawai'i (3-1, 1-1 BWC) Jan. 15-16. The following weekend Bakersfield will head to southern California to tackle UC Riverside before returning home to host Cal State Fullerton at the end of the month.
 
~GoRunners.com~
Print Friendly Version
California State University at Bakersfield Athletics loading logo