by US Fed News

The CSUB men's basketball might just as well have worn overalls and hard hats to Friday night's game against fellow NCAA Division I independent Utah Valley University. Despite shooting a season-low 29 percent from the field, the Roadrunners simply out-worked Utah Valley, leading nearly wire-to-wire in a 63-58 victory at the McKay Center in Orem. Junior forwards Trent Blakley (Alta Loma HS) and Santwon Latunde (Landover, Md./Cowley County CC) led CSUB (7-20 overall) with 19 and 12 points respectively.

But it was their work on the glass that proved decisive Friday night. Blakley grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds to complete his third double-double of the season while Latunde pulled down 13 as part of his sixth double-double. The duo helped the Roadrunners grab 50 total rebounds, their most-ever against an NCAA Division I opponent. CSUB also had 19 offensive boards, its second-best total as an NCAA Division I school. "I was really proud of our effort tonight, not just Trent and Santwon but the entire team," said Head Coach Keith Brown. "I thought Terrence (Johns) and Donavan (Bragg) gave us good energy off the bench. "I thought we played with good energy and intensity and we executed well, even though the shots weren't falling tonight." CSUB trailed only once in the game, at 20-19 with 6:33 remaining in the first half. But the Roadrunners clamped down on the defensive end, closing the half on a 13-2 run to take control at intermission, 32-22. The Roadrunners needed less than four minutes of the second half to expand their lead to 16 points, 41-25, on a Blakley three-pointer. They had a chance to get it to 19, but Johns' excellent look at a three-pointer just missed. From there, Utah Valley slowly chipped away at the lead. Down by 10 at 50-40 with four minutes remaining, the Wolverines started sending Roadrunners to the line. The Roadrunners went 8-of-13 from the line over the next 3:39 as Utah Valley pulled to within five. UVU had a chance to pull to within two when Ryan Toolson, a 95 percent free throw shooter and the top free throw shooter in Division I history, went to the line after a touch foul called on a three-point attempt with 12 seconds left. After making the first two, however, Toolson missed the third. Blakley secured the rebound, was fouled, then nailed both free throws to secure the win. CSUB returns to Central California to play its final two games. The Roadrunners head to the coast to meet Cal Poly Wednesday night before returning home to host Cal State Fullerton in the season finale Mar. 3.For more information please contact: Sarabjit Jagirdar, Email:- htsyndication@hindustantimes.com

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