`Runners to Start 4-Game Road Stint at UCI, UCSD

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – For the first time since Dec. 18, the CSU Bakersfield men's basketball team will head out for a road game as the Roadrunners are slated for a pair of Big West Conference contests in Southern California this week. On Thursday, Jan. 27, CSUB will tackle UC Irvine before heading to UC San Diego for a clash on Saturday.

"Our team is more confident," said Rod Barnes, Bakersfield's Head Coach, about what his team learned over the last 40 days. "I think we played some of the top teams in our league and we had some opportunities at home…Going on the road, you need the focus of everyone and every guy on deck and I think we're in that position right now."

Barnes went on to describe his team's perspective on where it stands at this point in the season: "We've discussed this being a marathon. It's going to be a long, grueling battle. We haven't gotten off to the start we would like…but I think we have a good mindset right now and we understand the challenges that we have with the next four games on the road."

Bakersfield (6-7, 1-3 BWC) is coming off a split of two Big West games at home last week, defeating Cal Poly before dropping a close battle against Hawai'i. The `Runners looked to fifth-year senior Justin McCall (16.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg) to be the offensive spark last week. CSUB's defense continues to stifle opposing offenses as the `Runners have only allowed their opponents to score 70+ points three times this season.

UC Irvine (6-7, 1-3 BWC) comes into the week on a three-game skid, dropping games against three of the league's top four teams. In the all-time series, CSUB and UCI have met just eight times heading into this weekend with Irvine owning a slim, 5-3 advantage over Bakersfield. Last year, the `Runners and Anteaters split a pair of games in Irvine.

UC San Diego (8-10) started the season strong, earning wins over California and Georgia Washington, but the Tritons have fallen in their last five contests. During UCSD's reclassification period to NCAA Division I, the Tritons' contests against Big West opponents do not count toward the league standings, but if they did, UCSD would be 2-5 at this point. All time, the `Runners boast a 17-1 record against the Tritons, including a two-game sweep for CSUB in Bakersfield last season.

Both games this week will be broadcasted live on ESPN+ with 7 p.m. (PT) tipoffs. `Runner fans are encouraged to make the drive down to Irvine to root for CSUB on Thursday, but at this time, UC San Diego is not allowing fans in its venue. Links to video and radio broadcasts, live stats, tickets for UCI, and more are all available at GoRunners.com/Live.

~GoRunners.com~

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Players Mentioned

#22 Justin McCall: G/F; 6' 6"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#22 Justin McCall
: 6' 6"; Senior
: G/F

Players Mentioned

#22 Justin McCall

Players Mentioned

#22 Justin McCall