Fresno State closes with 17-2 run to beat CSUB for second time in nine days
| Wednesday, Feb 16 2011 10:45 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, Feb 16 2011 10:45 PM
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CSUB's Rashad Savage pump fakes Fresno State's Nedeljiko as teammate Garrett Johnson defends from behind during the first half of the Roadrunner's home game at the Rabobank Arena on Wednesday night.
CSUB's Donavan Bragg grabs a rebound ahead of three Fresno State defenders, Tyler Johnson, Greg Smith and Tim Steed during the first half of their game at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield on Wednesday night.
CSUB's Donald Johnson blocks the shot of Fresno State's Tim Steed during the first half of their game at the Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield on Wednesday night.
Cal State Bakersfield began its Division I basketball era 31/2 years ago with a storybook win over Fresno State at Rabobank Arena that was decided in the final seconds.
History didn't repeat itself Wednesday night.
The Roadrunners were in the game until being outscored 17-2 over the final 8:03 and dropped a 73-55 decision to the Bulldogs.
The paid attendance of 5,634 was the second-largest crowd to see a Roadrunner home game since CSUB began playing in Bakersfield's downtown arena in the 1998-99 season. CSUB is scheduled to return to the on-campus Icardo Center for home games next season.
"It was a great turnout, a great response from the community," CSUB coach Keith Brown said. "This was a college basketball environment tonight and they saw 32 good minutes. I'm disappointed we did not put them in a position to be our sixth man the last eight minutes where they could have made a difference."
A short jump shot by Donald Johnson with 8:22 remaining pulled CSUB (9-15) within 56-53. That was the Roadrunners' final field goal -- CSUB went 0-for-12 after that and 0-of-6 on 3s. Two free throws by Donavan Bragg were the only Roadrunner points the rest of the way.
"The first half we had a lot of energy," said CSUB junior guard Alex Johnson, who scored all of his team-leading 15 points in the first half. "We made shots, we rebounded. The second half we didn't come out with the same energy."
Johnson hit five 3s in the first half that led the way in CSUB's 37-34 halftime lead.
CSUB was also 10-of-10 from the line in the first half and had a 26-13 rebounding edge.
"When we missed shots we had the right response," Brown said of CSUB's first half. "We communicated good, we were moving the ball. Even the shots we missed were good shots."
Nine first-half turnovers prevented the Roadrunners from enjoying an even bigger lead.
"We had possessions where we were aggressive, and our aggressiveness resulted in high-risk plays," Brown said. "Instead of a four-point lead, we could've been up by double-digits."
But everything changed in the second half. The Bulldogs came out much more aggressively and scored eight quick points to grab the momentum they never relinquished.
Much of what worked for CSUB in the first half didn't in the second half. Over the final 20 minutes, Fresno State (12-14) outrebounded CSUB 22-16, the Roadrunners only went 6-of-8 from the line and Johnson was 0-for-8 from the field. CSUB only shot 20 percent as a team in the second half (6-of-30).
"We were much more aggressive, much more defensive oriented in the second half," said Fresno coach Steve Cleveland. "In the first half I was most disappointed that our defense lost Johnson a few times in our zone.
"In the second half, we went more man-to-man and did a better job."
CSUB's Rashad Savage, a non-factor in the Feb. 7 game at Fresno because of foul trouble, had 12 points and a game-high 16 rebounds. Tim Steed had a game-high 20 points for Fresno.
CSUB shot only 24.6 percent in the Feb. 7 79-49 loss at Fresno and hit only 27.9 percent on Wednesday (17-of-61).
Bragg was 0-for-7, Stephon Carter was 2-for-10 and Johnson was 5-for-19.
"It's really disappointing we didn't play better offensively," Brown said. "We haven't had that sustained production from our three veteran guards like we did when we were successful (CSUB started the season 8-5). ... We need efficiency. When that happens, other parts fall into place."
CSUB travels to Longwood (Va.) for a Saturday game.
Notes
The all-time CSUB home attendance record is 6,248 vs. San Francisco State on Jan. 13, 2006. ... Johnson's five 3s in the first half moved him into second place on CSUB's career list with 160, past current assistant coach Zazk Grasmick (158). ... It was the fifth game this season Savage has had 15 or more rebounds. ... Jerry Scott, a longtime basketball official from Bakersfield who will retire at the end of the season, worked his final game in Bakersfield.
