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CSUB vs Bethesda at Icardo Center
David Dennis/All-Star Sports Photography
53
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 11-7,7-4 Big West
70
Winner UC Irvine Irvine 10-5,6-1 Big West
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
11-7,7-4 Big West
53
Final
70
UC Irvine Irvine
10-5,6-1 Big West
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 27 26 53
UC Irvine Irvine 36 34 70

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

`Runners Come Up Short in Irvine

IRVINE, Calif. – The Big West Conference-leading UC Irvine Anteaters proved to be a worthy foe for the CSU Bakersfield men's basketball team Friday night. The Roadrunners got out to a quick start, but UCI's size proved to be troublesome and the 'Eaters earned a 70-53 victory on their home court.

Every member of the CSUB squad saw action on Friday evening while 10 different `Runners got on the scoreboard in the contest. Redshirt senior Justin Edler-Davis posted a team-high eight points to go with five rebounds against UCI. Point guard Czar Perry added four points and six assists while Cameron Smith came off the bench to chip in six points and seven rebounds. The 'Eaters were led by forward Collin Welp, who tallied 16 points, five boards, and four blocks against CSUB.

Bakersfield struggled to keep UCI off the free throw line, where the 'Eaters went 19-for-28 compared to just a 5-for-7 showing for their guests. Two of the best rebounding teams in the country matched up in Irvine and UCI won the battle of the glass, 38-32.

With the loss, CSUB fell to 11-7 (7-4) while UCI improved to 10-5 (6-1) and maintained its unblemished, 8-0 record in the Bren Events Center.

First Half

CSUB raced out to a 7-2 lead before extending its advantage to 13-6 less than eight minutes into the game. UCI rallied and eventually tied the score, 17-17, four minutes later. The 'Eaters surged to as much as a 10-point lead and took a 36-27 advantage to the locker room.

Smith, a Pearl River Community College transfer, tallied six points and four rebounds in the first half. Shawn Stith, Bakersfield's starting forward, also chipped in six points while pulling down a pair of rebounds. At the break, CSUB held a two-rebound advantage over UCI, but the Irvine bench outscored Bakersfield's 23-10 in the opening 20 minutes.

Second Half

The `Runners made a strong push in the middle of the half, cutting their deficit to single digits on several occasions including at 8:01 on a De'Monte Buckingham and-1. But UCI answered Bakersfield's surges and the `Runners ran out of gas as the 'Eaters remained undefeated in the Bren Center with a 70-53 victory.

Buckingham finished the game with seven points and a pair of assists while fellow senior Taze Moore added six points and three steals. Redshirt sophomore Shaun Williams tallied seven points and three rebounds in Bakersfield's loss.

Tomorrow

CSUB and UCI will return to the Bren Events Center on Saturday night for one final game in the Big West series. With just over 24 hours between games, the `Runners and 'Eaters will face off on ESPNU with tipoff set for 7 p.m. (PT) in Irvine.

~GoRunners.com~
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