David Dennis/All-Star Sports Photography

Box Score

Abilene Christian ACU 7-5,0-0 WAC

CSU Bakersfield CSUB 4-6,0-0 Big West

Abilene Christian ACU

7-5,0-0 WAC

Final

Dec. 17, 2022

CSU Bakersfield CSUB

4-6,0-0 Big West

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Abilene Christian ACU	15	50	65
CSU Bakersfield CSUB	31	28	59

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | December 17, 2022

`Runners Can't Hold Off Wildcats in Second Half

Next Game:

Fresno State

12/20/2022 | 7:00 P.M.

ESPN+

1230AM/101.1FM ESPN

Next Game

Full Schedule

Dec. 20 (Tue) / 7:00 P.M.

Fresno State

History

Recap
Roster

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – After posting one of their most impressive halves of basketball this season in the first 20 minutes, the Cal State Bakersfield men's basketball team was unable to continue the momentum and let its lead slip in Saturday night's home contest. The Roadrunners battled Abilene Christian in the Icardo Center and the visiting Wildcats stormed back in the second half to earn a narrow victory, 65-59.

Quotes

"I thought it was a tale of two halves. In the first half, we played really good basketball and played the game the way we would like to play it. Our kids were really focused and I thought we did a really good job of defending…I thought the second half was just the opposite. We didn't defend as well as we had in the first half and I think it affected our offensive game. We saw how good we can be, but we also saw, if we're not focused and locked in for 40 minutes, that there's two halves to a game." – Head Coach Rod Barnes
"I think we was just moving the ball [in the first half] and we was just making shots. In the second half, I think they figured out our gameplan and started overplaying it and it slowed us down." – Antavion Collum.
On the positive takeaways from Saturday's loss: "Just how locked in and energetic we were in the first half. Trying to keep that for 40 minutes. I think we let off the gas and that's where it hurt us." – Travis Henson.

Notables

The `Runners dominated the first half, earning a 31-15 advantage at the break.
The Wildcats went 8-for-13 from three-point range in the second half on their way to the comeback win.
Bakersfield had three double-digit scorers, including a team-high 15 points from forward Travis Henson.
Point guard Kaleb Higgins tallied 11 points, six rebounds, and five assists on Saturday night.
ACU (7-5) has posted four-straight seasons with 20+ wins and the Wildcats have been to the NCAA Tournament in two of the last four years.

Next on the Schedule

CSUB (4-6) will wrap up non-conference play at home next week before starting Big West play on the road on Dec. 29.
vs. Fresno State, Dec. 20, 7 p.m. (PT)
The first 1,000 fans will receive free Roller Banners to show their support for the `Runners.
Full schedule available at GoRunners.com/MBB
CSUB Season Tickets and Single-Game Tickets available at GoRunners.com/Tickets or by calling 661-654-BLUE or 661-654-GOLD

First Half

Bakersfield jumped out to a 10-2 lead, stifling the ACU offense to the tune of five missed shots and three turnovers.
The `Runners surged all the way to the end of the half, taking a 31-15 advantage into the break.
Collum, a junior forward, tallied 11 points, three assists, and three rebounds in the opening period.
Seven different `Runners scored in the first half.
CSUB tallied five blocks, including two from freshman Ugnius Jarusevicius.
Bakersfield outrebounded ACU 20-13 and dominated the paints, outscoring the Wildcats 22-4 down low.

Second Half

On the strength of great three-point shooting, Abilene Christian slowly chipped away at Bakersfield 18-point advantage (33-15).
The Wildcats made it a single-digit deficit around six minutes into the period, then tied the game, 50-50, with just over five minutes remaining.
ACU earned its biggest lead at 60-54 with the `Runners sending the Wildcats to the free throw line to stop the clock.
Bakersfield committed eight second-half turnovers compared to just one by Abilene Christian.

~GoRunners.com~

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