by PointGuard » Thu Jun 06, 2013 1:58 pm
Game #22; Jan. 30, 2015: New Jersey Tech Highlanders (15-6, 8-0) at CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners (17-4, 6-2)
Huge game for both teams, but absolutely critical for us if we want a chance to win the conference title. In crafting their 8-0 conference record, New Jersey Tech now has the 38th best RPI in the nation. Our RPI is 35th best. We’re still smarting from the 86-66 pasting we took from the Huskies earlier this year.
I mentioned that I hoped to resurrect our strong defense. Well this game will be a huge test of that since New Jersey Tech has averaged 80.1 ppg in their 8 conference games, a big reason why they are undefeated thus far in conference play. But my pregame pep-talk centered on nothing but defense…staying in the face of their man, providing backup to their teammates, not giving up easy shots. I had come down with food-poisoning, so after talking to the team before the game, I spent most all of the game barfing in the locker room.
But I guess my harping on defense did some good. We clamped down on the Highlanders in the first half, contesting nearly every shot. Meanwhile our offense clicked so that by the end of the half we had a 44-23 lead. Jerell Brown scored 13 points to lead us offensively plus he held the Highlanders’ leading scorer, Adam McLean to just 2 points.
We expanded our lead slightly in the 2nd half (biggest lead was 27 points) and won with ease to give New Jersey Tech their first conference loss, revenge our earlier debacle, and narrow their lead for the conference title to 1 game. I’m hopeful it will shake them up enough so that they lose some more games and give us a chance to claim the title.
Final Score: CSU Bakersfield-84, New Jersey Tech-61. CSU Bakersfield season record: 18-4; Great West record: 7-2 (2nd place).
Scoring leaders: Jrl Brown-21, Lyde-12, Durham-10, Bryson-9, Evans-8.
Rebound leaders: Jsh Brown-13, Lyde-10.
Assist leaders: Durham-7, Dunn-4.
Player of the Game: SG Jerell Brown-21 pts, 3 reb, 1 assist.
Coach’s Pat on the Back Award: PF Ali Lyde-12 pts, 10 reb, 1 assist, 2 steals.
Other notes: Coming off the bench, Josh Brown was a beast on the boards, hauling down 13 rebounds in 18 minutes of play. Ali Lyde recorded a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds). We hit 43% of our shots (and 42% ofour 3’s) while holding the Highlanders to 41% shooting (and more importantly 27% from 3 point distance). We commanded the boards, 43-29 and forced 15 turnovers by New Jersey Tech while making just 8 ourselves.
Holding the potent New Jersey Tech offense to just 61 points was a coup our defense.
We now have 4 players averaging in double figures (Jerell Brown-18.0 ppg, Marcus Evans-11.1 ppg, Randy Durham-10.2 ppg, and Ali Lyde-10.1 ppg). In addition, my 3 centers (Mark Saunders, Marcelle Prastner, and Josh Brown) have a combined 11.1 ppg and 9.4 rpg.
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