PORTLAND, Ore. — In a decisive matchup, CSU Bakersfield triumphed over Portland with a score of 81-64 on Wednesday, thanks in large part to the outstanding performance of CJ Hardy, who netted 22 points.
Hardy was effective throughout the game, shooting 8 of 15 from the field and impressively connecting on 4 of 6 attempts from long range, helping the Roadrunners improve their record to 6-6 overall and 0-2 in Big West Conference play.
Supporting Hardy, Jemel Jones contributed 17 points, making 7 of 15 shots, including a perfect 3 for 3 from the three-point line. Additionally, Marvin McGhee played a significant role by scoring 14 points and shooting 4 for 6 from beyond the arc.
On the other side, Austin Rapp led the Pilots with 21 points and tallied two blocks. Max Mackinnon added 17 points along with six rebounds, while Bol Dengdit chipped in with 11 points for Portland, which fell to 4-8 for the season.
CSU Bakersfield secured the lead early in the contest, taking over with just under 19 minutes to play in the first half and maintaining control throughout the game. At halftime, the Roadrunners held a 46-35 advantage, with McGhee contributing significantly to the score.
The second half continued in a similar fashion, as CSU Bakersfield outscored their opponents by six points, with Hardy leading the team again, scoring 10 points after the break.
Both teams are set to return to action on Saturday, with CSU Bakersfield slated to host Portland State, while Portland will go up against Lafayette.