Cal State Bakersfield Edges UC Riverside in Close Contest
Thursday, January 8, 2026, 9:30 PM ET · Icardo Center
Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners 67, UC Riverside Highlanders 66, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won UC Riverside Highlanders vs Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners?
Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners beat UC Riverside Highlanders 67-66 at Icardo Center on January 8, 2026.
Who was favored in UC Riverside Highlanders vs Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners?
Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -166 (about 62% implied). The favorite won.
In a tightly contested matchup, the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners narrowly defeated the UC Riverside Highlanders 67-66 at the Icardo Center. This victory marks a significant moment for the Roadrunners, who improved their record to 9-9, while the Highlanders fell to 6-11.
Both teams entered the game with similar recent form, each holding a record of 4-6 over their last ten games. The Roadrunners had a slight edge, winning their last game against UC Davis Aggies 81-79, while the Highlanders were on a three-game losing streak, most recently losing 45-88 to Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors. In terms of scoring averages, Bakersfield scored an average of 73.5 points per game while allowing 79.5, whereas Riverside averaged 72.1 points but allowed a higher 82.6 points per game.
At home, Cal State Bakersfield had a record of 2-3, while UC Riverside struggled more on the road, with a record of 2-5. This game was crucial for both teams, particularly for the Roadrunners, who were looking to capitalize on their home advantage. In their previous meetings, the Roadrunners had not fared well against the Highlanders, losing both encounters in the 2025 season, with scores of 64-69 and 79-83.
Injury reports did not indicate any significant absences for either team, allowing both squads to field their key players. The market had priced the Roadrunners as 3.5-point favorites according to DraftKings, with a total set at 147.5 points. The odds reflected a competitive matchup, indicating that the game could go either way.
The conditions in the Icardo Center were conducive to a close game, with both teams showcasing their skills in front of a home crowd. The game was characterized by a series of scoring plays that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Notable moments included AJ George making a pivotal 17-foot jumper, which helped the Highlanders tie the game at 64-64, and Marqui Worthy Jr. contributing a crucial three-point jumper, showcasing the back-and-forth nature of the contest.
As the game progressed, free throws became critical. Jaden Alexander's successful free throws put the Roadrunners ahead 66-64 before Marqui Worthy Jr. tied it again for Riverside. Ultimately, it was Tom Mark's free throw that sealed the game for Bakersfield at 67-66.
Overall, this matchup highlighted the competitive spirit of both teams, with the Roadrunners managing to secure a much-needed victory while the Highlanders continued to seek answers to their recent struggles.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | CSUB -3.5 | 147.5 o -108 / u -112 | UC Riverside Highlanders +140 · Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners -166 |
Leaders
- PointsDailin Smith30Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners
- AssistsRonald Jessamy3Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners
- ReboundsRonald Jessamy13Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners
- PointsMarqui Worthy Jr.19UC Riverside Highlanders
- AssistsMarqui Worthy Jr.2UC Riverside Highlanders
- ReboundsBJ Kolly11UC Riverside Highlanders
Recent form
Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners
Last 10: 4-6Streak W173.5 scored · 79.5 allowed per game2-3 at home
- W81-79at UC Davis AggiesJan 3
- L77-81vs UC Irvine AnteatersJan 1
- W64-63vs Idaho VandalsDec 23
- W97-66vs Nobel KnightsDec 19
- L62-70vs Pepperdine WavesDec 14
- L69-80vs North Dakota State BisonDec 12
- L84-109at UC Santa Barbara GauchosDec 7
- L66-87at Cal State Northridge MatadorsDec 5
- W76-71at Fresno State BulldogsNov 30
- L59-89at Florida State SeminolesNov 26
UC Riverside Highlanders
Last 10: 4-6Streak L372.1 scored · 82.6 allowed per game2-5 away
- L45-88vs Hawai'i Rainbow WarriorsJan 2
- L65-97at UCLA BruinsDec 23
- L78-92at St. Thomas TommiesDec 21
- W95-70vs Stanton ElksDec 17
- L53-100at BYU CougarsDec 14
- W88-84at Cal Poly MustangsDec 7
- L60-73at UC Irvine AnteatersDec 5
- L69-77at Utah Tech TrailblazersNov 29
- W83-74vs Grambling TigersNov 24
- W85-71at San Diego TorerosNov 22
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC Irvine | 23-12 | - | 15-5 |
| Hawai'i | 24-9 | 1 | 14-6 |
| UC San Diego | 23-11 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Cal State Northridge | 20-14 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Cal State Fullerton | 18-16 | 3 | 12-8 |
| UC Davis | 19-14 | 4 | 11-9 |
| UC Santa Barbara | 18-14 | 4 | 11-9 |
| Cal Poly | 14-19 | 5 | 10-10 |
| Long Beach State | 10-22 | 9 | 6-14 |
| UC Riverside | 10-22 | 10 | 5-15 |
| Cal State Bakersfield | 8-24 | 13 | 2-18 |
Box score
| Stat | UC Riverside Highlanders | Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 23-56 | 23-62 |
| Field goal % | 41 | 37 |
| Three-pointers | 10-22 | 6-13 |
| Three-point % | 45 | 46 |
| Free throws | 10-16 | 15-20 |
| Free throw % | 63 | 75 |
| Rebounds | 33 | 46 |
| Offensive rebounds | 9 | 17 |
| Defensive rebounds | 24 | 29 |
| Assists | 11 | 9 |
| Steals | 6 | 9 |
| Blocks | 6 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 16 | 15 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 12 | 25 |
| Fast-break points | 4 | 13 |
| Points in the paint | 24 | 28 |
| Fouls | 20 | 15 |
| Largest lead | 9 | 9 |
| Lead changes | 11 | 11 |
| Time in front | 40 | 53 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half27-29Jailen Daniel-Dalton makes 2-foot dunk (Osiris Grady assists)
- 1st Half30-29Marqui Worthy Jr. makes 26-foot three point jumper (BJ Kolly assists)
- 1st Half30-31Ronald Jessamy makes layup
- 1st Half31-31Marqui Worthy Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half32-31Marqui Worthy Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Half35-31Tyler Jones makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half36-31Tyler Jones makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half37-31Tyler Jones makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half39-31BJ Kolly makes layup
- 2nd Half39-34Dailin Smith makes 24-foot three point jumper (AJ George assists)
- 2nd Half39-37Dailin Smith makes 25-foot three point jumper (Kadar Waller assists)
- 2nd Half42-37Andrew Henderson makes 24-foot three point jumper (Marqui Worthy Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half42-40Dailin Smith makes 28-foot three point jumper (AJ George assists)
- 2nd Half42-43Dailin Smith makes 27-foot three point jumper (Ronald Jessamy assists)
- 2nd Half42-46Dailin Smith makes 27-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half44-46BJ Kolly makes layup
- 2nd Half44-48AJ George makes 10-foot jumper
- 2nd Half46-48Osiris Grady makes 10-foot jumper (Marqui Worthy Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half46-50AJ George makes 10-foot jumper
- 2nd Half47-50BJ Kolly makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half49-50Marqui Worthy Jr. makes layup
- 2nd Half51-50Marqui Worthy Jr. makes 4-foot jumper
- 2nd Half54-50Andrew Henderson makes 23-foot three point jumper (Tyler Jones assists)
- 2nd Half57-50Andrew Henderson makes 26-foot three point jumper (BJ Kolly assists)
- 2nd Half59-50BJ Kolly makes layup
- 2nd Half59-52Ronald Jessamy makes layup (Kadar Waller assists)
- 2nd Half59-54Tom Mark makes layup (Ronald Jessamy assists)
- 2nd Half59-55Tom Mark makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half59-57Tom Mark makes layup (Ronald Jessamy assists)
- 2nd Half59-59Ronald Jessamy makes layup
- 2nd Half59-60Ronald Jessamy makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half61-60Jailen Daniel-Dalton makes layup (Osiris Grady assists)
- 2nd Half61-62AJ George makes 17-foot jumper
- 2nd Half61-63Dailin Smith makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-64Dailin Smith makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-64Marqui Worthy Jr. makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jailen Daniel-Dalton assists)
- 2nd Half64-65Jaden Alexander makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half64-66Jaden Alexander makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-66Marqui Worthy Jr. makes layup
- 2nd Half66-67Tom Mark makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners, below favours UC Riverside Highlanders.
Venue
- Icardo CenterBakersfield, CA
- Attendance259
- OfficialsDarron George, Jeff Campbell, Ervin Wilson
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