`Runner Men to Host One of League Leaders on Thursday

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Cal State Bakersfield men's basketball team is grinding to get back in the win column despite playing without up to five key players over the last few weeks. This week, the Roadrunners will host a Big West contest on Thursday before heading back out on the road on Saturday.

Upcoming Schedule

vs. UC Riverside, Thursday, Feb. 2, 7 p.m. (PT), Bakersfield, Calif.
at UC San Diego, Saturday, Feb. 4, 7 p.m. (PT), La Jolla, Calif.

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.

`Runner Notes

Bakersfield (6-16, 2-8 BW) dropped a pair of Big West games last week, including a three-point road loss against Hawai'i on Saturday.
CSUB continues to adjust to playing without point guard and leading scorer Kaleb Higgins, who went down with a season-ending injury near the beginning of January.
The Roadrunners also had to battle UCSB without their pair of Lithuanian towers, Modestas Kancleris and Ugnius Jarusevicius, who are both out with injuries.
Last week, junior forward Antavion Collum posted a pair of career-high scoring efforts, including 23 points on the road against Hawai'i.
Point guard Dalph Panopio, who had hand surgery just before the start of the season, finally returned to the court, playing in both games last week.

Quotes from Head Coach Rod Barnes

On how UC Riverside has changed since the two teams met in December: "Not that much. I think the start of them finding out something about their team was in our game, when [Jamal Hartwell II] got hot. He's been one of the hottest new guys in the league."
"We've been talking about our rebounding as a team overall. After losing a couple of big guys, especially Modestas Kancleris, he was one of the guys rebounding well for our team overall…We've just got to step up to the challenge. Even if we don't win the rebounding battle, we can't lose it that it's so bad that it affects us."
On playing shorthanded due to injuries: "You just want to execute and play well with the guys you have…Getting Dalph Panopio back helped us. It got us a breather for some guys…But if we can get the guys that we have playing well and then you add those other guys, then it makes your team just that must stronger."

Scouting the Highlanders

UC Riverside (15-7, 8-2 BW) currently sits in second place in the Big West standings.
The `Runners fell to the Highlanders on Dec. 29 in the Big West opener, 71-59, despite CSUB leading by six points at halftime and by 10 points early in the second half.
Zyon Pullin is tied for second in the Big West in scoring this season, averaging 18.8 points a contest. In the meeting a month ago, the `Runners limited Pullin to eight points, but he tallied six assists.
UCR and CSUB's all-time series dates back to Bakersfield's earliest seasons around 50 years ago. The `Runners hold a 44-35 advantage in the series, but the Highlanders have won four-straight games against Cal State Bakersfield.
The Highlanders went 1-1 last week in a pair of home games, beating UC San Diego by seven points after falling to Hawai'i by four.

Scouting the Tritons

UC San Diego (8-14, 3-7 BW) is 2-2 in its last four games, including a triple-overtime loss against Long Beach State.
The `Runners erased a 14-point second-half deficit on Jan. 14 to defeat the Tritons in Bakersfield, 56-52.
Bryce Pope is the second-leading scorer in the Big West, tied with Pullin at 18.8 points a contest.
CSUB and UCSD owns a 17-4 all-time record against the Tritons, but UCSD has won the last three matchups.
The Tritons sit one game ahead of the `Runners in the league standings at the start of this week, but UCSD travels to meet UC Irvine before welcoming CSUB to La Jolla, Calif.

~GoRunners.com~

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Players Mentioned

#3 Dalph Panopio: G; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#55 Modestas Kancleris: F; 6' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore; He/Him/His

Players Mentioned

#3 Dalph Panopio
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: G

#55 Modestas Kancleris
: 6' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore; He/Him/His
: F

California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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`Runner Men to Host One of League Leaders on Thursday

Players Mentioned

#3 Dalph Panopio

#55 Modestas Kancleris

Players Mentioned

#3 Dalph Panopio

#55 Modestas Kancleris