TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

Zach Lamb said the recent elevation of his game stems from improved confidence.

"I'm playing with a lot more confidence and a lot more aggressiveness than I did in the middle of the season," said Lamb, a junior guard who scored 23 points Saturday night to lead CSU Bakersfield past San Diego, 72-63.

"Coach had a good talk with me," added Lamb, who's scoring outburst six days earlier sparked a Roadrunner win at Nebraska-Omaha. "I was worried about being taken out. Once we had that talk, I started to play."

The win, before 2,305 at Rabobank Arena, got the Roadrunners back to .500 at 14-14. They have two regular-season games remaining.

"Sixteen wins. That's what we're trying to accomplish," said senior forward Donald Johnson, who had 14 points, nine rebounds and three blocks.

"We've got to finish strong and not let these last two games slip away," Lamb said.

CSUB coach Rod Barnes said a winning season is the No. 1 goal for the Roadrunners.

"We've got a chance to do something that's never been done before here as a Division I program," Barnes said of the winning season goal. "That's more important than anything in the steps we need to take ... as we build and grow our program."

San Diego (11-16), a member of the West Coast Conference, never got going offensively Saturday, hitting only 39 percent from the floor in the first half and going only 2-of-10 on 3s until hitting two late in the game. CSUB also controlled the boards with a 32-22 edge with 11 offensive rebounds. That helped offset 17 CSUB turnovers.

CSUB point guard Issiah Grayson was out of the starting lineup for only the second time in CSUB's 28 games. He still managed 14 points and eight assists.

"We sat our starting point guard because he's been turning it over a lot," Barnes said. "That contributed to us getting off to a slow start but it paid off for us. ... I think he learned his lesson. We did a better job moving the ball and a better job in our floor game."

Lamb had 13 points and Johnson 10 in the first half when CSUB took a 35-24 lead into the break. The lead never dropped below seven in the second half.

Lamb's recent play has Barnes excited.

"The last 3-4 games he's showing he's a good player," Barnes said. "He's starting to take over games when we need buckets. He's not even tapped what he can possibly be. He's a really skilled guy.

"I'm pushing him every day. I think he's a guy who can be a go-to kind of guy."

Ken Rancifer had 13 points and six rebounds for the Toreros.

CSUB travels to New Jersey Institute of Technology on Wednesday before closing its regular season next Saturday against Nebraska-Omaha in the Icardo Center.