Toro Rally Falls Short As ’Runners Men Win, 73-69
January 7, 2005

Courtesy Cal State Bakersfield Sports Information Office

Complete Box Score

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The Cal State Bakersfield men’s basketball team won its 20th consecutive game against Cal State Dominguez Hills Friday night, 73-69, at Centennial Garden in Bakersfield. This game wasn’t like many of the others, however, as a scrappy Toro side nearly erased a 15-point deficit in the final four minutes.

CSUB (7-3, 2­1 CCAA) stayed within one game of surprise CCAA leader Cal State Monterey Bay with the win. Cal State Dominguez Hills dropped to 1-9 and 0-3.

Senior guard Michael Schneider nailed four three pointers over a five minute span of the first half to help CSUB erase an early six-point deficit. His season-high 16 points led four ’Runners in double figures.

Junior center Jon Bell also enjoyed his best game as a ’Runner with his first double-double in a CSUB uniform. He scored a season-high 10 points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.

Friday’s win was the fifth consecutive victory for the ’Runners, but it wasn’t easy. CSUB led by as many as 16 points in the second half and led 63-48 with 4:10 to play. That’s when Toro swingman Saul Lankster got hot. Lankster, who finished with a career-high 23 points, nailed three of his five three-pointers over the next four minutes to help the Toros trim the deficit to 72-69 with nine seconds remaining.

But CSUB center Andre Hardwick made one of two free throws to give the ’Runners a four-point edge then grabbed the rebound of a Mike Steed miss at the buzzer to secure the win.

In addition to Lankster, Phillip Givens scored 11 points and shared team-high honors with six rebounds. Although no Toro grabbed more than six boards, CSUDH out-rebounded the ’Runners 37-31, a shocking number give CSUB’s 12 rebound per game advantage entering the night.

CSUB returns to action Saturday when it host CCAA hopeful Cal Poly Pomona in Centennial Garden at 7:30 p.m. CSUDH plays at Cal State L.A. Saturday night.