Weber State University Athletics
Monday, November 19
Bakersfield, CA
8:05 p.m.
Weber State University
61
at
56
Cal-State Bakersfield
Wildcats Hold Off Roadrunners 61-56 For First Road Win Of The Season
11/19/2007 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- The Roadrunners were road kill for the Wildcats. Using two strong performances from Steve Panos and Arturas Valeika, Weber State kept its cool and composure down the stretch to defeat Cal State Bakersfield 61-56 Monday night in Bakersfield. It was WSU's first road win of the season and evened the season mark at 2-2.
Steve Panos scored a career high 14 points and pulled down a career high nine rebounds to lead the Wildcat charge. Panos scored nine of those 14 points in the second half. Arturas Valeika had his fourth straight “double/double” of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds. He made 8-9 free throws in the second half to keep the Roadrunners at bay.
The Wildcats led at half time for the first time this season going on a 10-0 scoring run in the final four minutes to take a 28-23 lead.
CSUB came took a brief 35-33 lead early in the second half but the Wildcats put together a 16-8 scoring run over a four minute span to go up 49-43.The Roadrunners fought back and pulled to within two at 57-55 on a short jumper by Santwon Latunde with 3: 14 remaining. The Wildcats countered with a big three-pointer by Dezmon Harris with 2:44 left.
The two teams then exchanged missed shots and missed free throws until CSUB's Zack Grasmick made one of two free throws with 46 seconds left cutting WSU's lead to four at 60-56.
WSU's Brody Van Brocklin committed a turnover following Grasmick's made free throw. Grasmick then missed a wide open three which was rebounded by Valeika. He came to the other end having made eight straight free throws in the game but missed. The Roadrunners came down with a chance to cut the lead to one on a three-pointer, but Latunde missed a short jumper which was rebounded by Panos with 16 seconds left. Panos made one of two free throws giving the ?Cats a comfortable five point lead. Trent Blakeley's three-point attempt with eight seconds left missed. Valeika got the rebound to seal the win.
The Wildcats had 22 turnovers in the game, but hit 56 percent from the field, made 12-16 free throws and out rebounded the Roadrunners 32-22 to negate that stat.
Weber State used a variety of zone and man-to-man defenses which resulted in the Roadrunners shooting just 38 percent from the field overall and 8-31 from the three-point line.
“It wasn't pretty but that's the way I like it on the road,” said WSU head coach Randy Rahe, “Winning on the road is hard anywhere you go. I thought the team held their composure down the stretch and played together. We had way too many turnovers offensively but I really thought our effort on the defensive end was the key.”
The Wildcats now have a seven day lay off over the Thanksgiving holiday to prepare for a Wednesday, November 28 home game against in-state rival Utah. Tip-off vs. the Utes in the Dee Events Center is set for7:05 p.m. (MST).
Steve Panos scored a career high 14 points and pulled down a career high nine rebounds to lead the Wildcat charge. Panos scored nine of those 14 points in the second half. Arturas Valeika had his fourth straight “double/double” of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds. He made 8-9 free throws in the second half to keep the Roadrunners at bay.
The Wildcats led at half time for the first time this season going on a 10-0 scoring run in the final four minutes to take a 28-23 lead.
CSUB came took a brief 35-33 lead early in the second half but the Wildcats put together a 16-8 scoring run over a four minute span to go up 49-43.The Roadrunners fought back and pulled to within two at 57-55 on a short jumper by Santwon Latunde with 3: 14 remaining. The Wildcats countered with a big three-pointer by Dezmon Harris with 2:44 left.
The two teams then exchanged missed shots and missed free throws until CSUB's Zack Grasmick made one of two free throws with 46 seconds left cutting WSU's lead to four at 60-56.
WSU's Brody Van Brocklin committed a turnover following Grasmick's made free throw. Grasmick then missed a wide open three which was rebounded by Valeika. He came to the other end having made eight straight free throws in the game but missed. The Roadrunners came down with a chance to cut the lead to one on a three-pointer, but Latunde missed a short jumper which was rebounded by Panos with 16 seconds left. Panos made one of two free throws giving the ?Cats a comfortable five point lead. Trent Blakeley's three-point attempt with eight seconds left missed. Valeika got the rebound to seal the win.
The Wildcats had 22 turnovers in the game, but hit 56 percent from the field, made 12-16 free throws and out rebounded the Roadrunners 32-22 to negate that stat.
Weber State used a variety of zone and man-to-man defenses which resulted in the Roadrunners shooting just 38 percent from the field overall and 8-31 from the three-point line.
“It wasn't pretty but that's the way I like it on the road,” said WSU head coach Randy Rahe, “Winning on the road is hard anywhere you go. I thought the team held their composure down the stretch and played together. We had way too many turnovers offensively but I really thought our effort on the defensive end was the key.”
The Wildcats now have a seven day lay off over the Thanksgiving holiday to prepare for a Wednesday, November 28 home game against in-state rival Utah. Tip-off vs. the Utes in the Dee Events Center is set for7:05 p.m. (MST).
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
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