After 16 days, CSU Bakersfield returned to the court. However, the Road Runners suffered a heartbreak by Mike Magpayo’s UC Riverside.
The Road Runners fell to the Highlanders, 65-64, in Big West Conference play, Sunday morning (Manila time) at the Icardo Center in Bakersfield, California.
With 20 seconds remaining, Justin Edler-Davis’ knockdown jumper put the Runners ahead, 64-63.
Edler-Davis though was called for a foul sending Dominick Picket to the stripe with 12 seconds left. Picket knocked down both freebies while a jumper by Kaleb Higgins at the buzzer missed.
The Road Runners fell to 0-2 in conference play and 5-6 while the Highlanders went up to 9-5, 2-1 in the Big West.
“We talked before the game that this would be very hostile territory, but we’ve been battle-tested early in the season,” Magpayo said. “Our guys take pleasure in this type of environment.”
UC Riverside had four players score in double-figures led by Pickett, who had 18 points to go along with five assists and five rebounds.
Zyon Pullin got 17 points, while Callum McRae tallied a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Flynn Cameron added 11 points as well.
Edler-Davis was the sole double-digit scorer for CSU Bakersfield with 12 points and nine rebounds.
Dalph Panopio made his conference debut, tallying five points, two assists, and a rebound in 20 minutes of play.
CSUB will host Cal Poly next on Wednesday.
