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California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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JustinEdlerDavisNE01
Nick Ellis
65
Winner UC Riverside UCR 9-5,2-1 Big West
64
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 5-6,0-2 Big West
Winner
UC Riverside UCR
9-5,2-1 Big West
65
Final
64
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
5-6,0-2 Big West
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
UC Riverside UCR 27 38 65
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 28 36 64

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

`Runners Drop 1-Point Decision vs Highlanders

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – A close battle that featured ten lead changes came down to the final possession in Saturday afternoon's men's basketball game between CSU Bakersfield and UC Riverside. The visiting Highlanders took a 65-64 lead with 12 seconds to go on a pair of free throws and the host Roadrunners were unable to find the final bucket, falling by the one-point margin.

"I'm proud of our guys," said Rod Barnes, Head Coach of the `Runners, who missed their last four games due to COVID-19 protocols. "To be off for nine or ten days now and to get back to the court, I'm proud of them for the effort that they played with. Riverside is a good basketball team. I thought they did what they do well as far as defending and making some big shots."

"We've got to move on," Barnes said about rebounding from the close loss. "We play again Tuesday. I expect our guys to bounce right back and get ready to go for Tuesday."

Bakersfield led almost the entire first half as the `Runners grew their advantage to as many as eight points. A Cameron Smith floating jumper put the `Runners up 23-15 with six minutes left in the half, but a last-second shot by the Highlanders saw CSUB go to the locker room with a 28-27 lead.

UC Riverside jumped out to a 32-28 lead with a quick surge out of the halftime break and the Highlanders kept the `Runners just out of arms reach. CSUB pulled within a single basket of UCR five different times before Antavion Collum's tip-in layup and free throw put the `Runners ahead, 44-41, with just over 10 minutes remaining.

Almost three minutes later, Riverside regained the lead on a pair of free throws and the two teams would trade leads several more times down the stretch. With 20 seconds remaining, Justin Edler-Davis' knockdown jumper put the `Runners ahead by one point, 64-63. On the other end of the court, Edler-Davis was leveled by a Riverside screener, but the `Runner was called for a foul, sending UCR to the free throw line. UCR's Dominick Pickett hit both free throws and CSUB was unable to find one final basket as the `Runners fell, 65-64.

On the game, Edler-Davis led the `Runners with 12 points, nine rebounds, and a pair of steals. Fellow senior Shawn Stith chipped in eight points and seven boards while guarding UCR's seven-footer. Sophomore guard Kaleb Higgins tallied four points, a season-high six assists, and three rebounds for the `Runners.

Bakersfield (5-6, 0-2 BWC) will have a quick turnaround with a pair of early home games next week. On Tuesday, Jan. 18, CSUB will host Cal Poly in the Icardo Center before welcoming Hawai'i to the mainland on Thursday, Jan. 20. Tickets for both games are available at GoRunners.com/Tickets while fans at home can watch live on ESPN+.

~GoRunners.com~
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