A free-for-all
| Tuesday, Dec 15 2009 10:36 PM
Last Updated Tuesday, Dec 15 2009 10:37 PM
When Today, 7 p.m. Where Rabobank Arena Records CSUB 1-6, Utah State 5-3 Radio 1180 AM TV Brighthouse Channel 21 Series Utah State leads 4-0 Notes Utah State has won 4-of-5 and coming off an 87-56 win over Utah Valley, the only team CSUB has beaten this season. Three of the four wins have been by at least 30 points... Free vouchers that can be exchanged for tickets are available at local Carl's Jr. restaurants. ... The high-flying, aerial circus group known as the TNT Dunk Squad will perform at halftime. ... Trent Blakley (17.0 ppg) ranks No. 3 in the nation among Division I independent scorers.
It's been almost a month since Cal State Bakersfield has played a basketball at Rabobank Arena.
Fans can finally see the Roadrunners play at home tonight -- and it won't cost anything.
CSUB (1-6) is hosting Utah State at 7 p.m. in its annual "Pack the House" night. Free vouchers are available are Bakersfield-area Carl's Jr. restaurants that can be exchanged for the best available seats in Rabobank Arena.
And the opponent is attractive. Utah State (5-3) is coming off a 30-5 season that saw the Aggies qualify for the NCAA tournament.
"The fans couldn't ask for a better opponent," said CSUB coach Keith Brown. "This is our marquee opponent at home this year. It's as good as it gets in getting quality teams to play here in Bakersfield.
"Hopefully we'll have a great turnout. The (CSUB players) need it more than anybody right now. It would be great for them to come out of the locker room into an arena filled with people."
CSUB has lost five straight. The only win was in Rabobank Arena, 58-51, over Utah Valley on Nov. 17.
CSUB has had some high-water marks this season. It had an 11-point first-half lead over UCLA on Nov. 20 before losing 75-64. And the Roadrunners played a solid second half Wednesday at San Jose State, an 84-80 overtime loss.
"I thought we made progress in the San Jose State game," Brown said. "And we want to take it a step forward from there."
CSUB has not played a game since the San Jose State contest, giving it six days of practice to work on various aspects of the game.
"Not just on the floor but video also," Brown said. "We've been going in the mornings and afternoons."
Brown added: "I like our progress as a team right now. We're trying to continue to get better and I think we've improved considerably in the last six days."
