Men's Hoops Defeats Point Loma

Saturday, January 19

GCU Arena

3:15 PM

Grand Canyon

Point Loma

Killian Larson

Photo by: Darryl Webb

1/19/2013 5:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Remain perfect at home with 55-40 win

The Grand Canyon University men’s basketball team defeated Point Loma, 55-40, today in Pacific West Conference action at GCU Arena. With the win, the Antelopes improved to 15-4 overall and 6-2 in conference play, while the Sea Lions fell to 3-11 overall and 0-7 in the conference.

The win improved GCU’s record at home to 11-0, while the 40 points marked a season-low for GCU’s defense.

Postgame reaction from sophomore forward Justin Foreman can be viewed here.

The two squads posted identical 34.1 field goal percentages (15-for-44) in the game, while the ‘Lopes outrebounded the Sea Lions, 37-25. GCU was able to score 21 points off 23 Point Loma turnovers, while also holding an advantage in second chance points, 11-4.

GCU was led by Killian Larson with 14 points, while Justin Foreman also scored in double-figures with 13 points. Larson also led the way on the boards with 14 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season.

The Sea Lions built an early 6-2 lead before the ‘Lopes used a 6-0 run to take an 8-6 lead at the 15:48 mark. GCU was then held scoreless for nearly five minutes, but fortunately only allowed two points to Point Loma in that time. The game then saw two more tied scores over the next four minutes before the Sea Lions extended their advantage to four points, 18-14, with six and a half minutes remaining in the half.

The ‘Lopes then went on a 9-0 run to reclaim a 23-18 advantage with just under three minutes to play and did not look back for the remainder of the half as they carried a 28-21 lead into the locker room.

GCU was led by Foreman, Larson and Joshua Lowery, who each had seven points in the first 20 minutes. The ‘Lopes shot 33.3 percent from the field (7-for-21) and drained 12 of their 14 free throws in the first half. The two teams were even with 14 rebounds apiece.

Both squads were hot from the floor to open the second half, shooting at least 50 percent in the first five minutes. The Sea Lions pulled within four points, 33-29, with under 14 minutes remaining before the ‘Lopes saw their first double-digit lead at 39-29 with 11:43 to play.

GCU was able to build a 16-point advantage, 49-33, with six minutes on the clock following a 10-4 run spanning nearly six minutes. The ‘Lopes would lead by as many as 18 in the final 20 minutes and did not allow Point Loma to come closer than 14 points in the game’s final five minutes.

GCU will continue their home swing with a contest against Azusa Pacific on Monday, Jan. 21 at 3:15 p.m. Fans can follow the action via live video by visiting www.gculopes.com.

GCU 55, PLNU 40