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GAME 12: BAKERSFIELD ROADRUNNERS  (8-5, 0-2 WAC)
Thursday, December 28, 2015 • 1:00 p.m. PST • Icardo Center • Bakersfield, Calif.
Live Video Stream: www.morganstatebears.com
Radio: n/a
Series Record: First Meeting
Head Coaches: MSU - Todd Bozeman (152-149, 10th yr) • CSUB – Rod Barnes (65-74, 5th)
Website: MSU - www.morganstatebears.com; www.gorunners.com

BEARS PREPARE TO CAP 2015 AT BAKERSFIELD ON THURSDAY
The Morgan State Bears will begin a two-game west coast swing Thursday, December 31 when they travel to face the Bakersfield Roadrunners. Bakersfield will enter the contest looking to bounce back from a 75-59 loss at Arizona State, while the Bears are coming off an 81-72 loss to UC Riverside. MSU will attempt to snap a 6-game losing streak. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. (PST) at Icardo Center.

PREVIEWING THE ROADRUNNERS
• Bakersfield returns three starters and four letterwinners from its 2014-15 squad that went 14-19, and went 7-7 and placed fifth in Western Athletic Conference play.
• Rod Barnes (Mississippi, '89) enters his 5th season as the 'Runners head men's basketball coach. He currently holds a 65-74 record.
• Bakersfield was picked 3rd in the 2015-16 Western Athletic Conference Preseason Poll.
• Bakersfield is looking to finish in the upper echelon of the conference behind 6-foot-9 senior center Aly Ahmed.  Ahmed, who was named Preseason All-WAC First Team, is currently averaging 13.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and has 15 blocked shots.
• The 'Runners have four players averaging double-figures in scoring led by senior Damiyne Durham who is currently leading the way averaging 14.2 points per game and has connected on 40-of-105 (.381) from 3-point territory. Kevin Mays (12.6 ppg, 8.6 rpg) and Deadrick Basile (10.5 ppg) are also averaging double-figures.
• UC Riverside is shooting 45 percent from the floor as a team and has connected on 71-of-206 (.345) 3-pointers.
• Tra Holder shook off foul trouble to score a career-high 23 points, hitting three 3-pointers in a decisive second-half spurt, and Arizona State beat Cal State Bakersfield 75-59. Aly Ahmed scored 19 points and Jaylin Airington added 12 for the Roadrunners (8-5), who kept it close for much of the night by outmuscling Arizona State inside. Bakersfield held a 46-29 rebounding edge, but shot 37 percent from the field.
 
THE SERIES
Thursday will mark the first meeting between the teams.
 
NEXT UP
The Bears will bring in the New Year at CSU Northridge on Saturday,  Jan. 2. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (PST).
 
AT THE HELM
Todd Bozeman enters his 10th year at the helm as Morgan State men's head coach. The Bears have participated in six of the last nine MEAC Tournament championships, captured back-to-back-MEAC Titles, and made appearances in the NIT and two NCAA Tournaments.
 
BEWARE THE BEAR
Under the direction of Todd Bozeman, Morgan State has collected a couple of memorable wins against big-time opponents. The Bears have recorded historic wins against: Long Island (2009); Manhattan (2009); Arkansas (2009); DePaul (2008); and Maryland (2009).
 
HOME GROWN 
Morgan State has five (5) players from the DMV (D.C., Maryland & Metropolitan-D.C.) area, including two from Baltimore. Senior Donte Pretlow (Dunbar High) and redshirt junior Cliff Cornish (North County) are both from Baltimore. Senior Cedric Blossom (Montrose Christian) is from Columbia and senior Andrew Hampton is from Germantown (Seneca Valley), while freshman Anthony Tate (Takoma Academy) is from Fort Washington.

BLOSSOM LEADING
Senior Cedric Blossom has scored double figures in four of the six games he's played this season and is currently the Bears' leading scorer by averaging 14.3 ppg.
• The starting forward is shooting 50 percent from the field, has converted 18-of-24 (.750) free throws and is averaging 6.2 rebounds per game.
• He enters Thursday's contest coming off a solid performance vs. UC Riverside in which he posted 14 points (6-11 FG) with six boards.
• He scored a season-high 25-point performance against Manhattan in which he shot 7-for-13 from the field, 79 percent (11-14 FT) from the stripe and had seven boards.
• The Preseason All-MEAC Second Team selection is averaging 18.7 thru the last three games for the Bears.

BENCH PRODUCTION
Morgan State's depth has been evident through the Bears' first 11 games this season, with MSU averaging 17.3 off the bench. Coach Bozeman's bench poured in a season-high 36 points off the during a loss to Manhattan. The reserves have averaged 17.0 points in the last three contests.

STARTING LINEUPS
Morgan State head coach Todd Bozeman has been mixing his lineups up during the early going of the season. The Bears have had a total of eight different starting lineups through the first 11 games.