`Runners Return to Henderson Looking to Dance

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – March Madness has arrived as the Cal State Bakersfield men's basketball team is traveling to Henderson, Nev. this week for the 2023 Hercules Tires Big West Basketball Championship, presented by The Hawaiian Islands. The Roadrunners are looking to make waves in their third league tournament. After a highly-competitive conference slate, CSUB earned the eight seed heading into the tournament and the `Runners also learned Monday afternoon that Antavion Collum had earned All-Big West recognition from the league's head coaches.

Upcoming Schedule

Big West Basketball Championship
Henderson, Nev. / Dollar Loan Center
First round vs. (9) CSUN, Tuesday, Mar. 7, 6 p.m. (PT)
(if win) Quarterfinal vs. (1) UC Irvine, Thursday, Mar. 9, 12 p.m. (PT)
CSUB's full championship schedule available at GoRunners.com/MBB

Postseason Honors

Antavion Collum, or "Dude", as his friends, family, and teammates know him, put together an impressive performance during the Big West slate.
The junior forward average 16.0 points per contest, eighth-best among all Big West players, while also adding 5.2 points and 1.7 assists a game.
Collum has been precise and efficient on offense in Big West play, converting on nearly 44% of his field goal attempts. The rare exceptions when his jumpers and layups do not go down are often results of getting fouled. At the charity stripe, Collum knocked down 81% of his free throws to make league opponents pay for poor defense.
The Big West coaches voted for an All-Conference team and Collum earned an Honorable Mention nod on Monday.
For the full list of Big West postseason honors, click here.

How to Follow the `Runners

Tickets for the Big West Basketball Championship are available now. Visit GoRunners.com/Tickets or call 661-654-BLUE or 661-654-GOLD for more information.
Fans who cannot attend the tournament in person can watch the first two rounds on ESPN+ and the final two rounds on ESPN2 and ESPN U, respectively.
Links for video, live stats, tickets, interactive bracket, and more are available at GoRunners.com/Live.
Live updates will be shared during games on Twitter @CSUB_MBB.

`Runner Notes

Bakersfield (10-21, 6-14 BW) closed out the regular season with a pair of hard-fought road games. The `Runners nearly spoiled UC Irvine's hopes for a Big West Regular Season title on Saturday.
With all of Bakersfield's injury troubles this season, Collum has stepped up, and for that reason, the forward earned All-Big West Honorable Mention honors.
The `Runners are experiencing deja vu as they are facing CSUN in the first round of the tournament for the second-straight season. A year ago, CSUB eliminated the Matadors with a convincing, 58-45, victory in the brand-new Dollar Loan Center's first-ever event.

Scouting the Matadors

CSUN (7-24, 4-16 BW) closed out the regular season losing five of their last six contests, with the lone win coming against Bakersfield.
CSUB and CSUN have a long and storied rivalry dating back to 1973.
Bakersfield has a slight edge in the all-time series, 26-25, and neither team has ever led the series by more than a three-game margin.
The `Runners and Matadors will be playing each other for the third time in just a 26-day span (Feb. 9, Feb. 23, and Mar. 7).
Both teams won their home games against the other during the regular season this year.

~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 Return to Henderson Looking to Dance

Players Mentioned

#4 Antavion Collum

Players Mentioned

#4 Antavion Collum