Dalph Panopio’s career-high was not enough to lift CSU Bakersfield past Big West favorites UC Irvine, falling 57-52, Friday morning (Manila time) at Bren Events Center in Irvine, California.
Panopio played his best game for the Roadrunners, finishing the game with 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field with two rebounds, two steals, and two assists.
However, CSUB went cold late.
With the game knotted at 47-all with 4:10 left, Austin Johnson triggered a 10-5 endgame assault. During the final stretch of the game, the Roadrunners only scored courtesy of a free throw from Panopio and back-to-back buckets by Cameron Smith.
The Anteaters went up to 7-7 with the win, 2-3 in the Big West. The Roadrunners, meanwhile, dropped to 6-8 overall and 1-4 in the conference.
Johnson was the sole double-digit scorer for UC Irvine with 11 points.
Smith also delivered for CSUB with 13 points. Shawn Stith and Justin Edler-Davis added 10 points, apiece.
Panopio and CSUB will next face UC San Diego on Sunday.
