CSUB Announces 2021-22 Men's Hoops Schedule

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The CSU Bakersfield men's basketball team and Head Coach Rod Barnes enjoyed their first official season as members of the Big West Conference in 2020-21, renewing rivalries with many familiar foes and battling for a league title. But missing from all those exciting moments was one key component: fans. Coach Barnes and the Roadrunners anxiously anticipate playing with supporters cheering in the stands as the team has announced its full 2021-22 schedule.

Heading into his second decade as Head Coach of the `Runners, Barnes anticipates another season of growth: "Our first year in the Big West was a good starting point. We were the 'new guy' and probably caught some people off guard, but they are going to see us coming this year. There are no easy wins in this league, so we're going to have to be ready to compete every night. With the guys we brought in and the players we have returning, I think we have what we need to be competitive again."

As previously announced, Bakersfield's 2021-22 non-conference schedule will begin on the road against UCLA, a Final Four squad last season. The road trip will set the tone for the season ahead as the `Runners prepare for the Big West Championship in March. Some of the highlights of the rest of the schedule are below and the entire schedule can be seen at the link above.

CSUB's home opener is set for Saturday, Nov. 13, when the `Runners host Life Pacific in the Icardo Center. Bakersfield will see two more tough opponents on the road in the month with stops planned at Northern Arizona (Nov. 18) and Boise State (Nov. 26). In between those two road contests, `Runner fans will enjoy greeting a familiar face as former Associate Head Coach Jeff Conarroe, now the Head Coach of Colorado College, will bring his Tigers to the Icardo Center for a Nov. 22 reunion.

After welcoming Idaho to Bakersfield on Dec. 11, the `Runners will swing by Texas to face Abilene Christian on Dec. 15. Bakersfield's last non-conference road game is set for Dec. 18 at Pac-12 member Colorado. Wrapping up the slate before Big West play, the `Runners will host Dartmouth on Dec. 21.

CSUB will open its home conference slate around the New Year when Cal State Fullerton (Dec. 30) and Long Beach State (Jan. 1) come to the Icardo Center on Big West Opening Weekend. The `Runners split both of their series against those two teams in 2020-21 and CSUB will be looking to defend the program's impressive home court record against them this season.

After hitting the road for a weekend to face CSUN (Jan. 6) and defending Big West Champion UC Santa Barbara (Jan. 8), the `Runners will return for four home games over an eight-day span. Basketball fans will have the opportunity to see UC Davis, UC Riverside, Cal Poly, and Hawai'i all visit Bakersfield in a short stretch (Jan. 13-20). CSUB played three of those four teams on the road last year and Hawai'i will be making its first-ever trip to the Icardo Center.

The `Runners will close January with a trip south to visit UC Irvine (Jan. 27) and UC San Diego (Jan. 29) before starting the second half of league play on the road.

The final four weeks of the regular season with see CSUB host UC Santa Barbara (Feb. 10), CSUN (Feb. 12), UC San Diego (Mar. 3) and UC Irvine (Mar. 5). The `Runners will also play four-straight road matches in between those sets of home games with their final road game of the regular season a scheduled business trip to Honolulu to face Hawai'i (Feb. 26).

The Big West Championship has moved a few miles down the road from Las Vegas to Henderson, Nev. with all games to be held at the brand-new Dollar Loan Center arena. The conference tournament will be held Mar. 8-12 and, for the first time in its new format, will feature all ten eligible teams competing for the league's automatic bid to March Madness.

The Icardo Center will be rocking this season when the `Runners are defending the blue Kern Schools Court. Fans will not want to miss out on being there to root CSUB to victory. Season tickets for home contests are already on sale and moving fast. For more information on making a deposit for season tickets, visit GoRunners.com/tickets or call 661-654-BLUE today.

~GoRunners.com~

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CSUB Announces 2021-22 Men's Hoops Schedule