`Runners to Face Big West-Leading UC Irvine on ESPNU

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The CSU Bakersfield men's basketball team has a marquee matchup scheduled for this weekend as the Roadrunners are preparing to face off against Big West Conference-leading UC Irvine. The `Runners (11-6, 7-3 BWC) and Anteaters (9-5, 5-1 BWC) will square off, Feb. 5-6, in a pair of games in Irvine, Calif. with the latter of the two contests being nationally televised on ESPNU.

"[UC Irvine] are well coached," said Rod Barnes, Head Coach of the `Runners. "They are going to come down and get a good shot. If you want to defend them, you better disrupt what they do because. Their bigs are going to post hard; they are very physical."

Barnes went on to describe why he thinks his squad matches up well with UCI: "They want the game to be played very close to the vest. They want to execute their offense and their defense and, obviously, we're a team that likes to disrupt your offense. It will be a battle…We asked the question at the beginning of the year 'could we compete in this league?' I think we've done a good job to this point and now we get a chance to see what is considered, over the last two or three years, the best team."

Both CSUB and UC Irvine are heading into the weekend coming off Big West series splits. The `Runners recovered from a first-game loss to Cal State Fullerton to take a convincing win on Saturday in the Icardo Center. On the road against Hawai'i, the 'Eaters edged their hosts in the first game, then dropped another tight clash the following night.

This weekend's series also pits two of the nation's top rebounding teams against each other. CSUB ranks fifth in NCAA Division I in rebounding margin (+10.2) while UCI sits close behind in eighth (+9.9). The `Runners and 'Eaters are also two of the Big West's top defensive teams as both hold their opponents under an average of 64 points per game.

On Friday in Irvine, CSUB and UCI will tip off at 4 p.m. on ESPN3. Saturday night's contest is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tipoff with the game set to be broadcasted live on ESPNU. Links to all broadcasts, video and radio, as well as live stats are available at GoRunners.com/mbbLinks.

~GoRunners.com~

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