OREM — There is often a saying in sports that says if you want to beat the best you have to play your best. On Saturday night in front of 1,765 fans in the Icardo Center in Bakersfield, the UVU men’s basketball team didn’t play their best. UVU committed 13 turnovers and shot just 36 percent from the field, including 19 percent from 3-point land and the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners picked up the 91-69 victory.
The loss drops UVU to 10-15 overall, 4-6 in the WAC while CSU Bakersfield improves to 18-7 overall and 8-2 in the WAC.
UVU held their own in the first half as they trailed 22-20 at the nine minute mark. But Bakersfield used an 8-0 run over the next four minutes to take a 30-20 lead. UVU cut it back down to six on a fast break layup by Jaden Jackson but the ‘Runners used an 11-3 run to close out the half with a 41-27 lead.
Jaden Jackson had seven points in the first half to lead UVU but the Wolverines shot just 35 percent in the half and were only 2-of-12 from 3-point range. [yuzo_related]
In the second half, Jaden Jackson hit a jumper at the 11:17 mark to cut the Bakersfield deficit to 13 at 59-46 but it was as close at UVU got. Bakersfield used a 17-5 run over the next five minutes to take a 76-51 lead. The Wolverines went almost three minutes without scoring and the game got away from them.
In the second half, the ‘Runners took 42 free throws and although they only made 26, it was double what UVU made in the second half from the charity stripe. The ‘Runners also didn’t make a 3-pointer in the second half as they were 0-of-4 from beyond the arc. UVU was 3-of-14 from 3-point range but they couldn’t get the stops they needed.
The Wolverines are back at home for two games beginning on Thursday night against Chicago State. The Cougars are still looking for their first conference win of 2016 while UVU is trying to keep pace with Seattle for the No. 3 seed in the WAC tournament coming up in March. UVU also hosts UMKC on Saturday evening in the UCCU Center with tipoff for both contests scheduled at 7 p.m. MT.
