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Blue and Gold game brings the fun and excitement ahead of CSUB basketball's new season

Posted at 11:06 PM, Oct 20, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-21 02:11:14-04

The basketball season can't get here soon enough for CSUB. Just seven months after the men's team went to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history, excitement is there to get back.

Thursday night (half) the Icardo Center was packed for the Blue and Gold inner squad scrimmage. "To finally get back on the court in front of the fans and have them cheering for you is truly incredible," said senior guard Ericka Williams. 

The night started with a three point contest with the women's team. Two of the top shooters from last year's team that lost in the WAC semi final, Addi Walters and Ericka Williams, got to the finals with Walters hanging on to win 9-8.

"I wasn't even watching them go in to be honest," said Walters. "I was just trying to get as many up as possible."

After the women scrimmaged the men took to the court still dancing like they were in March. "We're always serious at all times but Barnes let us come out and play," said senior Jaylin Airington. "He doesn't like this but tonight was fun."

Freshman Taze Moore turned heads with his high flying dunks and shared the title of dunk champion with sophomore Damiyne Durham.

While winning the WAC tournament and going to the NCAA Tournament was "a big step in the right direction" for the program, head coach Rod Barnes says there's still more work to be done this year.

LOOK BACK: CSUB men's basketball wins first WAC title

"When we're selling out this place every night, when we're expected and picked to win the league, then we can say that's where we really want to be," Barnes said.

The Runners will play an exhibition game November 5th and will start the new season the following week when they host San Diego Christian at 7:00 P.M. 

"They're talented enough and we're deep enough that come March I think we can win three games in three days," said Barnes.

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