CSU Bakersfield beat Western Illinois 91-83 on the road in Macomb.
Inglewood, California, native Kjay Bradley led CSU Bakersfield with 25 points and 7 assists. Danny Stephens had 21 points for Western Illinois. Daivion Traylor led all players with 8 rebounds for Western Illinois.
CSU Bakersfield had 54 points in the paint to Western Illinois's 30. Western Illinois covered the closing spread. Our model missed the final margin by 7.8 points.
Cal State Bakersfield in 2017 became the first No. 8 seed to reach the NIT semifinals since seeding began in 2006, winning at California, Colorado State and UT Arlington.
Before the game
Our preview, as it ran before tip ·
CSU Bakersfield vs. Western Illinois prediction: model has CSU Bakersfield by 1
CSU Bakersfield (2-0) visits Western Illinois at Western Hall in Macomb Thursday at 7 PM ET on ESPN+.
Our model makes CSU Bakersfield a 1.3-point favorite, projecting a 75-74 final, and gives CSU Bakersfield a 54% chance to win. The betting market has CSU Bakersfield favored by 5.5 with a total of 169. The model leans Western Illinois +5.5 and Under 169.
Players to watch: Jaden Alexander of CSU Bakersfield, 27.1 points a game; Petar Ivancic of CSU Bakersfield, 14.9 points a game; Bryce Cofield of CSU Bakersfield, 9.5 points a game.
CSU Bakersfield traveled about 1,577 miles to Macomb and crossed 2.0 time zones.
What the model said
Projected that morning with only earlier games
CSUB 75, WIU 75model score
+0.2model spread (home)
149.5model total
7.8points off the final margin
UnderdogWIU +8.58.3WonOver 147.52.0Won
OverUnderFavoriteUnderdogThe colored fill is the gap between the model and the market: a full chip means 6 points or more. The number on each chip is that gap.
Leans are against the DraftKings closing line ESPN carries. Season record on the ratings page.
Line and result
Spread (home)
Total
ML home
ML away
Source
Open (first seen)
+7.5
149.0
our snapshots
Latest
+5.5
169.0
287
-353
our snapshots (8 books)
Close
+8.5
147.5
340
-440
Draft Kings via ESPN
Margin -8 (home)ATS WIU coveredTotal 174 → over
Travel and rest coming in
Team
Rest days
Miles in
Road streak
Time zone
CSUB
3
1,577
1
+2 h
WIU
non-MAC team, not tracked
Rest is full days off between games. Miles are an estimate from the travel model (see the travel page).
