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California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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JustinEdlerDavisDD003
David Dennis/All-Star Sports Photography
71
Winner CSUN CSUN 7-16,3-7 Big West
65
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 6-13,1-8 Big West
Winner
CSUN CSUN
7-16,3-7 Big West
71
Final
65
CSU Bakersfield CSUB
6-13,1-8 Big West
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
CSUN CSUN 31 40 71
CSU Bakersfield CSUB 23 42 65

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

`Runner Rally Falls Just Short Against CSUN

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Another hard-fought battle did not go the way of the Roadrunners on Saturday night as the CSU Bakersfield men's basketball team dropped a close game against CSUN. The two teams went toe-to-toe all the way down to the wire, but CSUB's rally fell short with the `Runners losing 71-65 on their home court.

"We had some opportunities down the stretch and we didn't take advantage of those," said Rod Barnes, Head Coach of the `Runners. "I thought Northridge did a really good job after we made a run and got our crowd into it. They hit some big shots, but it's easy to hit those big shots when you've got a comfortable lead…I'm proud of our kids; they continue to try to fight and scratch and claw to get the win, but we've got to execute better."

On the night, Justin Edler-Davis led all `Runners with 19 points while adding seven rebounds. Justin McCall (15 points, seven rebounds), Cameron Smith (10 points, seven rebounds), and Kaleb Higgins (eight points, six assists) also played important parts in Bakersfield's surge, but CSUB was unable to overcome a 15-point, second-half deficit.

Bakersfield started the game slowly, scoring just four points in the first 11 minutes. The `Runner defense kept the score from getting out of hand and CSUB was able to cut its deficit to single digits multiple times in the first half. The `Runners made a final push toward the end of the period and went to the locker room trailing CSUN, 31-23.

The Matadors shot 54 percent in the first half compared to just 34 percent for the `Runners while Edler-Davis had 13 points at the break.

CSUN got out to its biggest lead of the game just over four minutes into the second period, taking a 15-point advantage on its host. The Matadors kept the `Runners at a distance all the way until CSUB made a push in the final four minutes.

From a 65-54 deficit, Bakersfield went on a 9-0 run, capped by a four-point play by guard Dalph Panopio, to draw within two points with 1:10 left on the clock. CSUB had to foul to stop the clock, the Matadors hit their free throws, and the `Runners could not complete the comeback, falling 71-65.

Bakersfield outrebounded CSUN 37-28 on the night, but turnovers proved to be costly for the home team. The `Runners coughed up 15 turnovers on Saturday night, including 12 steals by the Matadors.

With the loss, CSUB (6-13, 1-8 Big West) will leave the Icardo Center and head back out on the road for four-straight games. Next week, the `Runners will head to play UC Riverside and UC Davis before traveling to Cal Poly and Hawai'i the following week.

~GoRunners.com~
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