Cal State Bakersfield bounces back to defeat Anteaters 62-57 in Big West play

Dawson Baker of UCI is surrounded by Cal State Bakersfield defenders in Saturday’s game. (Photo courtesy UCI Athletic Communications)

Cal State Bakersfield’s men’s basketball team ended UC Irvine’s eight-game home winning streak, defeating the Anteaters 62-57 Saturday night in the second game of a two-game Big West Conference series at the Bren Center.

Collin Welp scored a team high 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Anteaters (10-6, 6-2). Dawson Baker (out of Capistrano Valley) had nine points and a block while Isaiah Lee and Austin Johnson added eight points each.

UC Santa Barbara is atop the league standings at 8-2 and UCI is second.

UCI made 44.2 percent (19-of-43) of its field goals while the ‘Runners shot just 36.8 percent (21-of-57) overall.

Cal State Bakersfield outrebounded UCI 26-22.

Justin McCall finished with a game-high 15 points to lead Cal State Bakersfield (12-7, 8-4) and Ronne Readus grabbed nine rebounds

“It was a physical game and I feel like they came out as the more physical team and I give a lot of credit to Bakersfield,” said UCI Coach Russell Turner. “I feel like our guys were more on edge and ready in last night’s game than they were tonight and Bakersfield out-played us.

“We are not at a stage yet to beat a team like Bakersfield without giving our best effort. I think our guys gave effort tonight but we didn’t have the same edge that we did last night.”

NEXT UP

UCI begins a two game road series at UC Riverside on Friday. Friday’s game will tip-off at 4 p.m. while Saturday’s game will start at 9 p.m. on ESPNU.

Source: UCI Athletic Communications