BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The CSUB men's basketball team is enjoying its strongest start at the NCAA Division I level in its fourth season of full Division I play. So to is junior guard Alex Johnson (Toronto/Vaughan Road Academy), who moved into the No. 1 spot in the latest NCAA Division I statistics this week with 48 three–point field goals made.

Johnson entered Christmas break No. 3 but moved up after draining six from long range Sunday versus Colorado. He moved into a tie for first among all NCAA Division I players entering Monday's (Jan. 3) action. He is tied with Andrew Goudelock (College of Charleston).

Johnson also ranks No. 3 nationally in three–pointers made per game (3.4) and No. 18 in three–point field goal percentage (46.6). His seven treys in the Dec. 7 win over Idaho State and Dec. 22 win over UC Riverside rank No. 14 in NCAA Division I play this season.

This has been a breakout season for Johnson, who redshirted after a preseason knee injury sidelined him for the entire 2009–10 season. His 48 three pointers this season are just one shy of his career high of 48 set in 2008–09 while his 15.1 points per game scoring average is more than double his career mark of 7.3 ppg   

“He was a 40 percent three–point shooter before getting hurt prior to last season, so we knew he was a consistent threat,” says CSUB Head Coach Keith Brown. “Really, what he's doing this year is a tribute to the hard work he put in through the recovery process. He's quantity is increasing as his confidence has increased as well as the confidence of his teammates in his ability to knock down big shots.”

Thanks in large part to Johnson's efforts, the Roadrunners enter the week as one of the nation's most dangerous perimeter teams, connecting on 41.2 percent (96–233) from beyond the arc through 14 games, a mark that ranks 11th in Division I this season. It would rank No. 3 all–time in CSUB history (45.1 in 1987) and No. 1 in CSUB's Division I era (35.0 in 2008).

Johnson and the Roadrunners will take their aerial circus to one of college basketball's most challenging venues when they visit The Pit to face New Mexico Wednesday, Jan. 3. at 7 p.m. MST. Fans can listen live on ESPN Bakersfield 1230 AM (espnbakersfield.com) or watch the tape delay broadcast on The Mountain Network (DirecTV Ch. 616) Thursday at 1 p.m. PST.

CSUB returns to Bakersfield and Rabobank Arena to host Idaho Jan. 15.