Runners even record with Sac State win

CSUB men's basketball improved to 2-2 Tuesday night with a 72-62 win over Sacramento State at Rabobank Arena. It was a gritty win for the Runners, having to rely heavily on their post play to counteract the post attack of Sac State who was dead set on scoring in the post. Not only did the Runners win the game, they managed to outscore the Hornets on the inside tonight as well.
When it comes to college basketball, it's key to have a team that knows how to finish a game. It was a trait that a very young inexperienced Runners team last year was unable to master, four games into this season CSUB has managed two solid finishes at home. Trailing late on Tuesday, CSUB went to the guys who've been through the battles before, Trent Blakely, Santwon Latunde and Donovan Bragg, each of whom provided a spark late to key the CSUB rally and victory.
When CSUB needed a big shot Tuesday, they got it. Providing the difference between a .500 record heading into Pepperdine Saturday and a losing one. This was a different Sac State team than the one the Runners beat by 15 last season. New coach, mostly all new players transferring from the Junior College level, and a new philosophy. It was also a new Roadrunners team, not in the same ways like Sac State, but in experience and fortitude.
Should be a good matchup Saturday with Pepperdine, a chance for CSUB to have a winning record in D-I play for the first time in their short transition history. Tuesday's win meant the first time the team has reached .500, and a post Thanksgiving win would be another huge step in this process...we'll see if the team has another gritty effort in them, they'll need it against their first West Coast Conference team of the season.
Happy Thanksgiving.