Roadrunners Ready for Riverside

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – By the time Saturday afternoon's Big West Conference contest arrives, the CSU Bakersfield men's basketball team will have gone 16 days between competitive action. Rod Barnes, Head Coach of the Roadrunners, and his squad are anxious to get back on the court and they will do so on Jan. 15 when CSUB hosts UC Riverside in the Icardo Center at 1 p.m. (PT).

"As competitors, you want to get right back to the floor and we haven't been able to do that," Barnes said of the team's two-week interruption. "But our focus has been more on the health and wellbeing of our student-athletes…It's been tough, it's been challenging, but we've tried to stay positive and get through this…I think our young men have handled it well. Obviously they are ready to get back, they want to compete and get back to the floor."

Bakersfield's return to the Valley Strong Court on Saturday not only comes with the anticipation of the resumption of the team's season, but the `Runners are also preparing to play in a regionally televised broadcast on Spectrum SportsNet.

When asked about this weekend's opponent, Barnes said the Highlanders represent a tough challenge: "They are a really well-balanced team. They have got a lot of guys that are returning from a good season. They won some big games early in the year and obviously they have been known for their defense…It's going to be a difficult game for us. Hopefully we're playing the best that we possibly can with the short period of time to prepare."

CSUB (5-5, 0-1 BWC) and UC Riverside (7-5, 0-1 BWC) enjoy a rich history that dates all the way back to the 1972-73 season. Saturday's clash inside the Icardo Center will be the 77th meeting in the all-time series with the `Runners enjoying a slight edge, 44-32, over the Highlanders. Last season, CSUB went on the road and split a pair of games in Riverside.

This weekend's game tips off at 1 p.m. (PT) in the Icardo Center. Fans can get tickets ahead of time at GoRunners.com/tickets while those watching at home can view the game live on Spectrum SportsNet. CSUB's regular ESPN+ broadcast will still be available outside of the Spectrum footprint (includes a large portion of Southern California). Links to both TV broadcasts, CSUB's radio broadcast, live stats, tickets, and more are available at GoRunners.com/Live.

As a reminder, CSUB's increased COVID-19 safety protocols for spectators at men's basketball games went into effect on Jan. 1, 2022, as fans are now required to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative test in order to be admitted. For more information on those requirements, visit GoRunners.com/AttendancePolicy.

~GoRunners.com~

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