David Dennis/All-Star Sports Photography

Box Score

CSU Bakersfield CSUB 15-11,9-7 Big West

UC Davis UCD 10-7,6-4 Big West

CSU Bakersfield CSUB

15-11,9-7 Big West

Final

Mar. 11, 2021

UC Davis UCD

10-7,6-4 Big West

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
CSU Bakersfield CSUB	29	27	56
UC Davis UCD	32	26	58

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | March 11, 2021

Last-Second Layup Sinks CSUB at Big West Championship

LAS VEGAS – A back-and-forth battle culminated in a flurry of baskets as CSU Bakersfield battled UC Davis in Thursday afternoon's Big West Basketball Championship quarterfinal matchup. The Roadrunners tied the score with eight seconds remaining, but a last-second layup by UC Davis eliminated CSUB from the tournament in a 58-56 loss.

"I'm so proud of this group of young men," said Rod Barnes, Head Coach of the `Runners. "They have really given themselves to this program and I'm so thankful and honored to be their coach. It was a tough year, getting through the pandemic and all of the things that come with that. Our guys were really focused and determined. I'm proud of the way they carried themselves."

Barnes went on to discuss Thursday's loss and his team's first season in the Big West: "Truly, we're disappointed with the loss tonight. Give Davis credit. We came out and really got after them. They were able to withstand and regained the lead, then their young man made a big shot at the end. It was a sad way to end our season, but this team is strong and resilient…To have a winning record and a winning season, I think we proved that we belong in this league."

Redshirt senior Taze Moore led Bakersfield in scoring with 12 points while adding two boards, three assists, and a steal. Senior guard Czar Perry chipped in 10 points, two rebounds, three assists, and a pair of steals while senior center Ronne Readus tallied nine points, six rebounds, and a block.

Bakersfield shot 48 percent from the field, just behind Davis' 50 percent. The `Runners earned a narrow rebounding margin,26-24, while the Aggies enjoyed a 36-28 advantage on points in the paint.

First Half

CSUB got out to a hot start, using a 10-0 run to take a 12-4 lead nearly seven minutes into the game. The `Runners led by as many as 10 points in the period, but Davis used a late, 12-0 run to take a 32-27 advantage with 37 seconds remaining. Bakersfield went to the locker room trailing the fourth-seeded Aggies 32-29.

Second Half

UC Davis built its lead up to as many as eight points, 40-32, just over four minutes into the second period. Bakersfield used a 7-0 run, capped by a Justin Edler-Davis straightaway three-pointer, to draw within one point at 42-41.

With two and a half to play, a Justin McCall fadeaway jumper put CSUB ahead 52-51, but UC Davis hit a pair of free throws to take the lead right back 30 seconds later. A Czar Perry jumper tied the score at 54-54 with 38 seconds remaining. UC Davis went back ahead with a driving layup, but Moore tied the score with a layup of his own with eight seconds left. The Aggies did not call a timeout, relying on Ezra Manjon's fancy dribbling, which broke down the CSUB defense and the guard converted on the game-winning layup with one second on the clock.

With the loss, the `Runners (15-11, 9-7 BWC) have been eliminated from the Big West Championship. Coach Barnes, his staff, and the `Runners will return home from Las Vegas and begin preparations for Bakersfield's second run through the Big West Conference next season.

~GoRunners.com~

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