Hannah Walker

Box Score

CSU Bakersfield CSUB 11-22,6-14 Big West

UC Irvine Irvine 23-10,15-5 Big West

CSU Bakersfield CSUB

11-22,6-14 Big West

Final

Mar. 09, 2023

UC Irvine Irvine

23-10,15-5 Big West

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
CSU Bakersfield CSUB	18	33	51
UC Irvine Irvine	36	39	75

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | March 09, 2023

CSUB Eliminated by #1 UCI, Optimistic for Future

HENDERSON, Nev. – Separated by one year, almost to the day, the Cal State Bakersfield men's basketball team suffered quarterfinal exits at The Big West Championship against a top-seeded foe. But Thursday's 75-51 loss and elimination at the hands of 1-seed UC Irvine looked and felt different than a similar result the year before.

At the end of a disappointing 2021-22 season, Head Coach Rod Barnes found himself needing to redirect his program with plenty of uncertainty facing the squad. This time around, the Roadrunners held their heads as their leader spoke of optimism and excitement for the future of Bakersfield basketball. Enduring through an injury-riddled season while several young, talented men gained plenty of experience in 2022-23, the `Runners are well on the road to their goal of becoming contenders in The Big West.

Notables

Bakersfield fell behind early against UC Irvine on Thursday and was unable to mount a comeback.
Boasting one of the top offenses in the league, the Anteaters sprinted ahead and stayed ahead with an 11-of-19 shooting performance from behind the arc helping the cause.
Both teams committed 13 turnovers in Thursday's quarterfinal matchup, but the `Runners converted the UCI miscues into just three points while Irvine scored 21 points off CSUB turnovers.
As they have for the second half of the season, since losing leading scorer Kaleb Higgins to an injury, Bakersfield looked to Antavion Collum to lead the way. The junior forward tallied 14 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and two assists in a game-high 34 minutes.
CSUB's two seniors also made huge contributions in their final collegiate contests. Travis Henson posted 14 points, four rebounds, and two blocks while Cameron Smith added 10 points, six rebounds, and three steals against UCI.
While the `Runners will miss their two seniors and the positive impact they had on the program, Barnes and his staff cannot wait to watch the pair graduate this spring. Smith is earning his master's degree from CSUB while Henson will walk the stage to receive his bachelor's.

Quotes

First Half

UCI jumped out to a 16-6 advantage in the first seven minutes of the game behind seven early points from seven-footer Bent Leuchten.
The Anteaters took their biggest lead of the half, 34-16, with 2:40 left in the period.
The `Runners slowed their foes over the final stretch, but CSUB went to the locker room trailing UCI 34-18.
Collum led the way with six points, four rebounds, and two assists in the opening 20 minutes.
Bakersfield went 0-for-6 from three-point range in the first period while UCI hit 7-of-12 from behind the arc.

Second Half

The Anteaters built up their biggest lead, 58-28, midway through the second period.
CSUB finally started to find an offensive rhythm after that point, and 11-2 run, but the top-seeded Anteaters closed out a convincing, 75-51 victory and advanced to The Big West semifinals.

~GoRunners.com~

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