Last-Second Free Throw Sends `Runners Past Idaho - California State University at Bakersfield Athletics - CSU Bakersfield Athletics

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – A late lead nearly slipped away from the CSU Bakersfield men's basketball team in Saturday night's game against Idaho. The Roadrunners held on for a 59-58 victory thanks to a team defensive effort, a huge performance from senior Justin McCall, and a last-second free throw from point guard Kaleb Higgins.

Bakersfield went to the final possession of the game with the score tied at 58 points apiece after an Idaho comeback. CSUB Head Coach Rod Barnes said he drew up a play for McCall, who scored a season-high 18 points and had a career-high nine rebounds, but the play broke and Higgins had to improvise. Bakersfield's point guard created some space and put up a jumper, but he was fouled on the play and headed to the free throw line. With 0.5 seconds on the clock, Higgins sank his first free throw, then clanked the second free throw to ensure time would run out on the Vandals.

Higgins, who hails from Pine Bluff, Ark., had five assists and five points on the evening, but none as important as the last point. Redshirt senior Justin McCall tallied eight points and seven boards for the `Runners.

As a team, CSUB shot 41.4 percent from the field while holding Idaho to 37.3 percent shooting. The Vandals were able to stick around on the strength of the long ball, knocking down 9-of-25 three-pointers on the night and 6-of-12 in the second half alone.

"I thought our defense was really good, especially in the first half," said Barnes after the victory. "In the second half, we didn't sustain the kind of effort and focus that we needed to and they did what they were supposed to. They took advantage of us…they made us pay."

Barnes went on to describe his team's effort to hold off the Idaho charge: "I thought we were resilient. We had a lead, then lost it, and held on and made some plays at the end of the game that we needed to make. These are the kind of games that builds character for you and gives you confidence that you can win close games."

CSUB built an early lead, 18-11, in the opening minutes of the game. Idaho pulled within a few points, but Bakersfield extended its advantage back out to 11 points at 30-19 with just over four minutes left in the half. A late Idaho surge brought the Vandals within just a few points again, but the `Runners took a 32-26 lead into halftime.

Bakersfield shot 41 percent from the field in the opening period while holding the Vandals to just 30 percent shooting. Eight different `Runners scored in the first half with Bakersfield native McCall leading all scorers with nine points.

In the second half, CSUB built multiple 10-point leads, but Idaho never let the `Runners sprint away. The Vandals pulled within one point on three different occasions down the stretch, including at 56-55 with 50 seconds left on the clock. A clutch three-pointer by Idaho's Mikey Dixon tied the score at 58-58 with 13 seconds remaining, but Higgins' game-winning free throw would prove to be the difference.

CSUB (4-2) will head back out on the road this upcoming week with a pair of scheduled stops on the docket. The `Runners will take on Abilene Christian in Texas on Wednesday, Dec. 15, before heading to Boulder, Colo. to face Pac-12 member Colorado on Saturday, Dec. 18.

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Last-Second Free Throw Sends `Runners Past Idaho - California State University at Bakersfield Athletics - CSU Bakersfield Athletics
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