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January 08 2021: CSU Bakersfield vs Cal Poly
David Dennis/All-Star Sports Photography
66
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 14-8,8-5 Big West
71
Winner UC Santa Barbara UCSB 15-3,9-2 Big West
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
14-8,8-5 Big West
66
Final
71
UC Santa Barbara UCSB
15-3,9-2 Big West
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 26 40 66
UC Santa Barbara UCSB 36 35 71

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

CSUB Comeback Falls Just Short at UC Santa Barbara

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Despite playing without two of the team's starters for most of the game, the CSU Bakersfield men's basketball team nearly erased a 19-point deficit against Big West Conference-leader UC Santa Barbara Friday night. The Roadrunners cut the Gaucho lead to just three points in the final minute of the game, but Bakersfield's comeback fell short as UCSB won its 11-straight game with a 71-66 final score.

"Our kids have been very resilient all year," said Rod Barnes, Head Coach of the `Runners. "They fight to the end. I'm proud to coach these young men and to have them in our program."

CSUB's second-half rally did not kick into gear until the final four minutes of the game as a pair of UCSB free throws with 3:45 left on the clock put the host Gauchos ahead 67-54. Just two minutes prior, CSUB's junior guard Grehlon Easter had checked back into the game and it would be Easter's contributions that sparked Bakersfield's comeback effort. The native of Little Rock, Ark. scored all of his season-high 11 points in the second half while also making a few key plays on the defensive end down the stretch.

Barnes commented on the production he got out of Easter on Friday night: "Grehlon is a good basketball player and he goes up against our starters every day. Our team has really stayed together, and when their turn has come, they have done a good job stepping in…Grehlon played great in the time he was given and so did Travis Henson. It's great to see those guys step up, especially in a time of need."

The `Runners were definitely in need on Friday night, playing without two of their top players. CSUB's top scorer, Taze Moore, sat out the game (non-COVID-related illness) while senior forward Shawn Stith went down late in the first half with a knee injury and did not return.

Shaun Williams, a 6-foot-3 guard out of St. Louis, Mo., equaled Easter's 11 points while adding seven assists for the `Runners. Starting point guard Czar Perry tallied four points, six assists, and five rebounds against the Gauchos. Putting together another solid game, senior center Ronne Readus posted ten points, nine rebounds, and a pair of blocks in The Thunderdome.

As a team, CSUB outshot its host from the field (50 percent vs. 44 percent), but UCSB enjoyed a great advantage at the free throw line. The Gauchos hit 14-of-15 from the charity stripe while CSUB took only four free throws and made two. Collectively, CSUB's bench outscored UCSB's 40-16 on the night.

First Half

Bakersfield found itself trailing 17-6 early on, but Readus came off the bench and sparked CSUB's offense. Mostly known for his rebounding abilities, the 6-foot-9 center scored in the lane on three-straight trips and cut Bakersfield's deficit to just five points.

UCSB used a 9-0 run to take a 30-16 advantage with just over eight minutes left in the half. The `Runners cut the deficit to single digits late, but CSUB went to the locker room trailing 36-26. The host Gauchos took advantage of Bakersfield's miscues in the first half as UCSB outscored CSUB 16-3 on points off turnovers.

A trio of `Runners led CSUB with six points at the break including Readus, who also pulled down five rebounds in the opening 20 minutes. Stith and Henson also scored six points each while Perry chipped in four points and three assists for CSUB.

Second Half

UCSB opened up its largest lead of the game at 49-30 less than five minutes into the second period. A Williams three-pointer pulled CSUB within 10 points, 57-47, with six minutes remaining, but UCSB answered right back with a three of its own to slow the Bakersfield momentum.

Five-straight points and a drawn charge from Easter helped the `Runners close the gap to single digits, 67-59, with just under two minutes left on the clock. The guard knocked down a contested three-pointer with 13 seconds remaining, making the score 69-66, but UCSB hit its free throws down the stretch and held off CSUB's advances for a 71-66 victory.

Tomorrow

The `Runners (14-8, 8-5 BWC) and Gauchos (15-3, 9-2 BWC) will return to The Thunderdome on Saturday to close out the Big West series with one final game. CSUB has adjusted well in its previous seven series against Big West opponents, posting a 6-1 record on Saturdays in Game 2 of the series. Tipoff in Santa Barbara is scheduled for 7 p.m. (PT) and the two teams will clash on ESPN3.
 
~GoRunners.com~
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