2017 NIT Bracket
CSU Bakersfield received an automatic bid to the NIT and will face No. 1 seed California (21-12) in the first round at 8:15 p.m. (PT) Tuesday, March 14. The game will air on ESPN2. The Roadrunners (22-9) are seeded No. 8 in their region.
CSUB is led by first team All-WAC honoree Jaylin Airington, who averages 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game, and second team selection Dedrick Basile, who averages 12.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game. Ranked 18th nationally in scoring defense, the 'Runners also had three WAC All-Defensive Team honorees in Airington, Moataz Aly and Matt Smith.
CSUB fell 70-60 to NM State in the championship game of the WAC Tournament Saturday, but earned an automatic bid to the NIT as the WAC regular-season champion. This is the first NIT appearance for the Roadrunners. It is their third postseason appearance in the last six seasons following an NCAA Tournament first-round appearance in 2016.
The 'Runners are 1-2 all-time against Cal. CSUB won 55-52 in the last meeting on Dec. 28, 2014, which was also in Berkeley.
The winner of the game will play the winner of No. 4 seeded Colorado State (23-11) and No. 5 seeded College of Charleston (25-9) in the second round.