CSUB Men's Hoops Preparing for Home Opener Saturday

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – After coming up short in a challenging season opener at No. 2 UCLA, the CSU Bakersfield men's basketball team will look to get in the win column when they return home this weekend. Looking forward to the first Icardo Center regular-season home crowd since February of 2020, the Roadrunners will host Life Pacific on Saturday, Nov. 13, at 8 p.m. (PT).

"Our guys were disappointed [after the loss to UCLA]," said Rod Barnes, Bakersfield's 11th-year Head Coach. "We didn't play as well as we could play and to have this opportunity against the No. 2 team, you want to play better than what we played."

Barnes also talked about what his team learned from their season opener: "We got to have more guys play well…If you look at our roster, we play a lot of guys, so it's gonna take us some time to really get in a good rhythm and a good flow and we have to work all week on trying to put that together."

Home opener games have always been good to the `Runners, especially during the Barnes Era (since 2011-12). In that span, Bakersfield has posted a 9-1 record with CSUB's only stumble a two-point loss to UT Arlington in 2012-13. The `Runners have averaged 89.1 points per contest in their home openers, often using Barnes' defensively aggressive approach to turn defense into offense.

CSUB and Life Pacific have played twice in the programs' all-time series with the `Runners claiming victories in both prior meetings. The last time the Warriors came to Bakersfield, near the start of the 2019-20 season, the `Runners pulled away early and went on to win 91-51. Redshirt senior Justin Edler-Davis posted nine points and six rebounds in that game while fellow senior Justin McCall tallied nine points and four boards against the Warriors.

Life Pacific is off to a 1-2 start on the year after earning a home-opening win over Benedictine Mesa. The Warriors then fell on the road against Saint Katherine and Pomona-Pitzer with an exhibition loss against NCAA Division I Idaho State in between.

Saturday's game in the Icardo Center is slated for an 8 p.m. (PT) tipoff. Fans can find season-long and single-game ticket information at GoRunners.com/tickets. Those who will be following along from home can catch the `Runners live on ESPN+ all season or listen in to the radio broadcasts. Links to the broadcasts, live stats, tickets, and more are all available at GoRunners.com/Live.

CSUB Athletics reminds fans coming to the Icardo Center that face masks are required at all times and concessions must be enjoyed outside on the brand new Harvey L. Hall Family Plaza.

~GoRunners.com~

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Players Mentioned

#10 Justin Edler-Davis: G/F; 6' 4"; Redshirt Senior

#22 Justin McCall: G/F; 6' 6"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#10 Justin Edler-Davis
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Senior
: G/F

#22 Justin McCall
: 6' 6"; Senior
: G/F

Players Mentioned

#10 Justin Edler-Davis

#22 Justin McCall

Players Mentioned

#10 Justin Edler-Davis

#22 Justin McCall