`Runners to Host Cal Poly Before Road Tilt at UC Davis

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Cal State Bakersfield men's basketball team will continue Big West play with a pair of games this week. The Roadrunners will host the Cal Poly Mustangs on Thursday, Jan. 5, before hitting the road for a clash with the UC Davis Aggies on Saturday, Jan. 7.

This Week's Schedule

vs. Cal Poly, Thursday, Jan. 5, 7 p.m. (PT)
at UC Davis, Saturday, Jan. 7, 5 p.m. (PT)

Quotes from Head Coach Rod Barnes

"I'm encouraged because we played one of the better teams in our league and we're up 10 points. Now we got to be consistent and stay locked in." - Barnes on figuring out the key to closing out games.
"We're looking forward to this week. I don't think our guys have felt intimidated or we were overmatched or anything. We're looking forward to the challenge of putting 40 minutes together. If we do that, as I told them, we'll be fine."

`Runner Notes

Bakersfield has started games strong recently, but has struggled to remain consistent down the stretch. The `Runners have held double-digit leads on three of their last four opponents, but Barnes' squad has gone winless over that stretch.
The `Runners (4-9, 0-2 BW) opened Big West play last week with a pair of tight games, ultimately falling to both UC Riverside on the road and UC Irvine at home.
The Cal State Bakersfield offense was led by junior guard Kaleb Higgins, who averaged 19.0 points, 7.0 assists, and 35 minutes per game last week. Higgins tallied a career-high 25 points in Bakersfield's road game in Riverside.
Junior forward Antavion Collum chipped in 16.0 points and 6.5 rebounds a contest including a career-high 20 points against Irvine in the Icardo Center.

Scouting the Mustangs

Cal Poly (7-7, 1-1 BW) kicked off league play by splitting a pair of contests. The Mustangs knocked off CSUN at home with a 10-point victory before falling to a hot Hawai'i team on the road.
Alimamy Koroma and Trevon Taylor lead the Mustang offense with each averaging a little over 10 points a contest.
CSUB and Cal Poly enjoy a rich history that dates all the way back to the 1970s when the two programs clashed as rivals in NCAA Division II. All-time, Bakersfield holds a 38-25 edge on the Mustangs.
The `Runners are 8-0 against Cal Poly in CSUB's Division I era (since 2007-08) and all of those games were played under the watch of Barnes.
Last year, CSUB swept the season series against Cal Poly. The `Runners defeated the Mustangs 73-60 in Bakersfield in January. A month later, the Mustangs nearly completed a comeback in their home gym, but CSUB held on for a 61-60 victory.

Scouting the Aggies

UC Davis (7-6, 0-1 BW) will welcome the `Runners to Davis after hosting UC Irvine two days prior.
Last week, the Aggies fell in their lone scheduled contest, an eight-point loss on the road against Hawai'i.
Junior guard Elijah Pepper continues to lead the Aggies' offensive attack. The two-time All-Big West honoree boasts an average of 19.4 points per game while also pacing UC Davis with 42 assists.
UC Davis and CSUB's all-time series also dates back to Bakersfield's earliest seasons around 50 years ago. The `Runners hold a 28-14 advantage in the series, but the Aggies have won four-straight games against Cal State Bakersfield.
During the 2021-22 season, the two teams only played once due to a canceled game. UC Davis earned an 81-79 victory at home over the `Runners last February.

How to Follow the `Runners

Single-game Tickets and Season Tickets are still available. Visit GoRunners.com/Tickets or call 661-654-BLUE or 661-654-GOLD for more information.
Fans who cannot attend the games in person can watch the live broadcasts on ESPN+.
Links for video, live stats, tickets, and more are available at GoRunners.com/Live.
Live updates will be shared during games on Twitter @CSUB_MBB.

~GoRunners.com~

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Players Mentioned

#4 Antavion Collum: G/F; 6' 8"; Junior

#1 Kaleb Higgins: G; 5' 10"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#4 Antavion Collum
: 6' 8"; Junior
: G/F

#1 Kaleb Higgins
: 5' 10"; Junior
: G

California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

Next Event

`Runners to Host Cal Poly Before Road Tilt at UC Davis

Players Mentioned

#4 Antavion Collum

#1 Kaleb Higgins

Players Mentioned

#4 Antavion Collum

#1 Kaleb Higgins