Dalph Panopio provided the spark for Cal State Bakersfield but it was not enough, bowing 65-71 to Cal State Northridge in the 2021-22 Big West Conference season, Sunday (Manila time) at Icardo Center in Bakersfield, California.
Down by as much as 15 points in the second half and 62-51 with 4:32 left in the game, Panopio suddenly caught fire late.
Panopio buried a booming triple off of a Kaleb Higgins assist plus the harm with 1:10 left to cut the lead down to two, 65-63.
Onyi Eyisi and Darius Beane were able to score on one-and-ones later on but Panopio continued the fightback. The 6-foot-1 guard cleaned up a Higgins miss, scoring on two free throws with 17 seconds left to keep the Roadrunners within striking distance against the Matadors.
Free throws by Elijah Hardy though would seal the win for Cal State Northridge, going up to 7-16 overall and 3-7 in conference play.
Panopio wound up with nine points on 2-o-4 shooting from the field and 3-3 from the stripe with a rebound and an assist.
Atin Wright led CSUN with 22 points while Hardy and Beane got 13 points each with the former also getting six steals.
CSUB, who fell to 6-13 overall and 1-8 in conference play, was paced by Justin Edler-Davis, who had 19 points and seven rebounds. Justin McCall tallied 15 points, seven rebounds, and two assists as well.
Panopio and CSUB head on the road on Friday (Manila time) to face the Mike Magpayo-coached UC Riverside at SRC Arena.
