`Runners Ride Win Streak into Pair of Home Games

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Riding the momentum from back-to-back overtime victories and the announcement of Antavion Collum's Big West Player of the Week award, the Cal State Bakersfield men's basketball team is looking forward to hosting a pair of league games in the Icardo Center this week.

Upcoming Schedule

vs. CSUN, Thursday, Feb. 9, 7 p.m. (PT), Bakersfield, Calif.
vs. Long Beach State, Saturday, Feb. 11, 7 p.m. (PT), Bakersfield, Calif.
- Homecoming Night

How to Follow the `Runners

Single-game Tickets are 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 (8-15, 4-8 BW) earned a pair of Big West victories last week, both in thrilling fashion, pulling out two overtime victories.
With all of Bakersfield's injury troubles, junior forward Antavion Collum has stepped up and been on a tear recently. The Memphis, Tenn. native has averaged 24.3 points per game over his last four contests, including a career-high 31 points against UC Riverside last week.
For his efforts, Collum was named the Big West Player of the Week on Monday.
Head Coach Rod Barnes currently has a 99-43 record (.697) in the Icardo Center.

Quotes from Head Coach Rod Barnes

On Collum's Big West award: "I think he's coming into his own. He's been pretty consistent here the last couple of weeks…He's been really focused. I think our team is starting to really lean into him, expecting a lot from him, and he's basically answered it. I'm really excited for him."
"This week we've got two home games. Obviously you always want to take care of your home court. We feel like we're playing well enough now, we can beat anybody. We also know, proven this last week by CSUN, anybody in our league can beat anybody."
On CSUN beating first-place UC Santa Barbara: "I think both [CSUN and us] are trying to build some momentum. I know we are. Again, it moves us up in the standings, but more important than that, we get to playing better."
"We've got to get better. We've got to be as good as we can possibly be at the end of the year…We also have to remind our guys the way we felt about 18 days ago, before we went to Hawai'i. I thought when we went to Hawai'i it was kind of a turning point for us."

Scouting the Matadors

CSUN (5-18, 2-10 BW) has struggled to get the ball rolling during league play, but the Matadors have some momentum now as CSUN knocked off Big West-leader UC Santa Barbara on Saturday.
Thursday's meeting will be the first between CSUN and CSUB this season, but the two programs have a long and storied rivalry dating back to 1973.
CSUB has a slight edge in the all-time series, 25-24, and neither team has ever led the series by more than a three-game margin.
Last year, the Matadors defeated the `Runners in Bakersfield in February, but CSUB got revenge in March, knocking out CSUN in the first round of the Big West Championship.

Scouting the Beach

Long Beach State (14-10, 8-4 BW) entered the week on a six-game win streak, including a triple overtime win against UC San Diego.
The `Runners and the Beach will also be meeting for the first time this season.
Just like CSUN, LBSU got the best of Cal State Bakersfield during the regular season a year ago. In the second round of the Big West Championship, the Beach eliminated CSUB on the way to the Championship Game.
Joel Murray was LBSU's leading scorer this year until a season-ending injury forced him out in early January. Since then, fellow guard Marcus Tsohonis has picked up the workload, averaging 22.2 points a game.
LBSU owns a 5-3 all-time record against the `Runners.

~GoRunners.com~

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Players Mentioned

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

Players Mentioned

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

California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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`Runners Ride Win Streak into Pair of Home Games

Players Mentioned

#4 Antavion Collum

Players Mentioned

#4 Antavion Collum