CHICAGO -- Matt Ross scored five of his seven points in the final 2 minutes, each time bumping Chicago State out from a one-point lead, and Rahjan Muhammad added three free throws in the final 13 seconds as the Cougars fended off Cal State Bakersfield 73-68 on Saturday.

Quinton Pippen led the Cougars (11-15, 6-6 Western Athletic Conference) with 18 points and Clarke Rosenberg added 16 with five assists and four steals. Muhammad and Eddie Denard scored 11 each.

Bakersfield (12-15, 5-8) entered on a three-game win streak, its longest since November, and while the Roadrunners never led in the second half, they came from 11 down to within 50-48 on three consecutive 3-pointers, two by Issiah Grayson and one by Javonte Maynor. The battle was on the rest of the way as Bakersfield often was within a point.

Grayson scored 21 for the Roadrunners, Brandon Barnes and Maynor 11 each.