By Esteban Ramirez

Sports Editor

Behind a double-double performance from junior forward Kevin Mays, the California State University, Bakersfield men’s basketball team got its first Western Athletic Conference win by beating University of Texas-Pan American 66-53 at the Icardo Center on Jan. 17.

“It was a huge win, especially because it was at home,” Mays, who finished with 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, said of the team’s first WAC win. “You gotta win home games in order to win this league, so that was a big win.

“We never feel like we are going to lose and after that University of LaVerne game when [junior center Aly Ahmed] got hurt, it’s tough to make that adjustment and put guys in those key roles, but now that we got him back, we feel strong about it and we’re rolling now so [everyone] can look forward to a lot of wins.”

The ’Runners (5-13, 1-2 WAC) built a double-digit lead in the first half behind a strong shooting night, in which they shot 50 percent in the half. Despite CSUB going into halftime with a 41-26 lead, the Broncs were able to rally back in the second half. UTPA (7-12, 1-2 WAC) was able to climb back in the game thanks in part to holding CSUB to 28 percent in the second half.

The ’Runners’ lead got down to 52-45 with 6:39 left in the game, but a huge three pointer by redshirt-senior guard Javonte Maynor pushed the lead back up to 10. The Broncs responded once again with two layups cutting the lead to six, but Ahmed was able to make two crucial free throws with 3:46 left in the game and after that the ’Runners went on a 9-4 run to close out the game.

“I think it’s huge,” CSUB coach Rod Barnes said of the team’s win. “I think the first one is most of the time the hardest one to get and more importantly to me I thought in the game, the guys executed like I wanted them to execute, especially on the defensive end. We got a big enough lead and down the stretch we made plays defensively to help us win, so that’s what we trust and believe in.

“I thought in the second half our offense got stagnant. I think we were as aggressive as we were in the first half, but because of defensive plays we were able to win the game.”

CSUB has had trouble closing out games this year, and Barnes said that he had to encourage the team to be aggressive on offense.

“I was just trying to encourage us from the offensive standpoint,” Barnes said. “I thought there were a couple of plays that we were careless with, and on the defensive end I just had to keep telling them ‘this is where we want to be.’”

Maynor led the ’Runners with 15 points and in his second game back Ahmed finished with 14 points and seven rebounds.

“It was a good relief, and hopefully we go on the road and steal two [games],” Maynor said. “We lost Aly right after we beat Cal and that stopped our momentum a little bit, so hopefully this win will get us back on track.”

CSUB will play at the University of Missouri-Kansas City on Jan. 22.