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California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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Cameron_Smith_CB_8
Carter Bennett/Utah Athletics
67
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 3-2,0-0 Big West
68
Winner UTEP UTEP 4-1,0-0 C-USA
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
3-2,0-0 Big West
67
Final
68
UTEP UTEP
4-1,0-0 C-USA
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 21 34 12 67
UTEP UTEP 34 21 13 68

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Written by James Tsitakis-Cecil

Men's Basketball Nearly Completes Comeback in OT Thriller

EL PASO, Texas – After putting up a season-high 73 team points in yesterday's win against Corpus Christi, the Roadrunners faced off against the hosts of the Jim Forbes Tournament, UTEP. In what first seemed to be a runaway game for the Miners, CSUB fought all the way back from multiple double-digit deficits to take the game to overtime. The thrill did not stop there, as the game ended with a narrow `Runners overtime loss, 67-68, following a set of free throws that tied the game in regulation with just three seconds remaining. Regardless, Bakersfield gave its absolute all in a game that proved to be an instant classic on career nights for both Cameron Smith and Kaleb Higgins.

Notables
  • The Roadrunners and Miners both started on even footing in the first few minutes of the game, but from the midway point of the first half onwards UTEP went on a massive run that saw them lead CSUB by thirteen points at the half.
  • The `Runners came out of halftime with renewed energy, and after an Ivan Reynolds dunk, Bakersfield went on a few runs of their own, fighting tooth-and-nail to chip away at the UTEP lead into the final seconds of the game. Bakersfield would eventually come to tie the game and send it to overtime at a score of 55-55.
  • Despite losing in the last few seconds of overtime, 68-67, CSUB showed an intensity and willingness to work that most teams struggle with on back-to-back road games.
  • Cameron Smith had the greatest statistical night of his career, tying his career-high in rebounds while also setting a new personal record of 16 points.
  • Kaleb Higgins blew up in the second half of the game, being the primary catalyst for the comeback, setting a new career high with a game-leading 23 points while also scoring all three free pivotal free throws to send the game to overtime in the first place.
Next on the Schedule
  • CSUB will cap off the Jim Forbes Classic against Alcorn State.
  • Nov. 25, 10 a.m. (PT)
  • Full schedule available at GoRunners.com/MBB
  • CSUB Season Tickets and Single-Game Tickets available at GoRunners.com/Tickets
First Half
  • At first, the game was balanced on each end of the court and CSUB was only down by a point, but UTEP quickly broke away with a 15-0 run.
  • By the midway point of the half, the Miners had extended their lead to make the game 21-7.
  • Despite retaining more offensive control and possession in the latter part of the first half, the `Runners had 13 turnovers that the Miners took advantage of.
  • Cal State Bakersfield dominated in rebounding, which helped turn the tides of the game through the remainder of the first half. Little-by-little the Roadrunners put themselves back in the game and ended the half down 21-34.
  • At the half, Cameron Smith led the `Runners with six points and five rebounds, but the offense has been spread out evenly amongst both starters and bench players.
Second Half
  • Ivan Reynolds kicked off the Roadrunner offense with a strong slam dunk early in the second half to begin Bakersfield's first large run of the evening, scoring 12 straight points before the Miners could answer.
  • Halfway through, CSUB had cut away at the lead and were suddenly down just a few points to UTEP, 39-42.
  • After Bakersfield's large run slowed, both teams traded blows back-and-forth down to the final five minutes. WIth just seconds to go in the second half, Kaleb Higgins converted all three possible free throws to knot the game at 55-all.
Overtime
  • A break in play between periods did nothing to slow the scoring pace. Both teams fired point-after-point at each other with sixteen lead changes through the end of the game.
  • The overtime period allowed both Cameron Smith and Kaleb Higgins to set career highs, but last-second free throws for UTEP ironically decided the fate of the game as the Miners beat the `Runners 68-67.
~GoRunners.com~
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