The Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners and the Cal State Northridge Matadors meet Thursday in college basketball action from the Matadome. CSU Bakersfield is 10-17 overall this year. The Roadrunners lost to Hawaii in their last game. As for CSU Northridge, they’re sitting at 6-22 after a loss to UC Riverside on Monday. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.
CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners
Cal State Bakersfield’s season went 6-14 over their first 20 outings. The Roadrunners are 4-3 since then with wins over UC Riverside, UC San Diego, CSU Northridge and Cal Poly. The losses came versus Hawaii, Long Beach State and Hawaii again.
In the Hawaii rematch on Monday, the Roadrunners took a 28-24 deficit into the second half. CSU Bakersfield was outscored 33-26 from there and lost 61-50. Antavion Collum was the only double-digit team scorer on 19 points.
Cal State Northridge Matadors
Over on the CSU Northridge side, they limped to a rough 4-16 record though 20 games this year. In the last eight the Matadors are just 2-6 with losses to UC San Diego, UC Irvine, CSU Bakersfield, UC Davis, UC San Diego and UC Riverside.
Back on Monday versus UC Riverside, the Matadors were outscored 49-34 in the first half. CSU Northridge didn’t get any closer on a 47-42 deficit from there and lost 96-76. Atin Wright was the leading team scorer on 24 points.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’m staying with CSU Bakersfield. Granted, there’s not a lot to get excited about in this matchup. That said, the Roadrunners have been doing a decent job of scoring lately; they’ve hit 69 or more points in six of their last seven outings. These teams last saw each other back on February 9 at Icardo Center. That one turned into a 73-58 home win for the Roadrunners featuring a 43-24 run in the first half. This one may not be quite so lopsided but I still like CSU Bakersfield to take the cover/win.