Deja Vu: Pickrel's Three-Pointer Forces Overtime, 'Lopes Win at California Baptist

Wednesday, January 2

Riverside, CA

8:30 PM

Grand Canyon

California Baptist

Braylon Pickrel

Photo by: Darryl Webb

Deja Vu: Pickrel's Three-Pointer Forces Overtime, 'Lopes Win at California Baptist

1/2/2013 10:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Win 12th straight contest in dramatic fashion

The Grand Canyon University men’s basketball team won a thriller, 77-74, against California Baptist in overtime tonight in Riverside, Calif. The win improved the Antelopes’ overall record to 13-2 and Pacific West Conference record to a perfect 4-0. The Lancers fell to 7-3 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

Postgame reaction from head coach Russ Pennell can be viewed here and of Braylon Pickrel by clicking here.

The win also marked the 12^th straight victory for GCU. The 12-game win streak is the longest in a single season for GCU since winning 13 straight from Dec. 21, 1987-Jan. 19, 1988 and the longest overall win streak for GCU since winning 22 straight from Feb. 15, 1988 – Jan. 3, 1989, a record that spanned two seasons, including the last national championship season during that 1987-88 campaign.

The game saw nine tied scores and 13 lead changes throughout, most of which came in the final 25 minutes.

The ‘Lopes shot 36.6 percent (26-for-71) in the game and made five of their seven three-pointers after the first half. GCU was led by Killian Larson with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Braylon Pickrel and Joshua Lowery added 14 points apiece, while Brad Carroll chipped in with 10.

GCU forced 20 CBU turnovers, scoring 22 points on those errors. The ‘Lopes also carried the advantage in rebounds, 41-36, resulting in 17 second chance points.

GCU shot 38.5 percent from the field (15-for-39) in the first half and were 0-for-8 from the three-point line until draining two behind the arc in the final two minutes. CBU posted an impressive 52.4 field goal percentage (11-for-21), but committed 12 turnovers that resulted in 14 GCU points. The ‘Lopes outrebounded the Lancers in the first 20 minutes, 20-17, and scored 40 points in the paint compared to 22 for CBU.

GCU was led at the half by Larson with nine points, while Lowery and Barret Robbins each added five points.

The Lancers opened the contest on a 7-2 run over the first three minutes before GCU used a 5-0 run to tie the score at seven with 16:34 on the clock. The ‘Lopes built a 14-10 advantage with 12 and a half minutes to play in the first and saw their first half lead extend to six points (18-12) with just under 12 minutes before the Lancers closed the gap to two points (18-16) just two minutes later.

GCU used a 16-9 run over the next seven minutes to build a 34-25 lead with 2:07 remaining in the half. CBU would then go on a 6-0 run for the final two minutes before Pickrel drained a three-pointer at the buzzer as the ‘Lopes carried a 37-31 lead into the locker room.

The Lancers opened the second half on a 5-0 run to pull within one point, 37-36, with 17 minutes to play in the contest. CBU tied the score at 39 following a successful three-point conversion with 16:12 on the clock before the ‘Lopes used a 7-2 run over the next two minutes to extend the lead to 46-41.

CBU then reclaimed the lead at 47-46 with just over 13 minutes, which began a two minute stretch that included three lead changes. The two teams went back and forth over the next few minutes, with the Lancers leading by as many as three points in that stretch. GCU then tied the score for the fifth time at 53 with nine minutes to play and overcame another three-point deficit to once again knot the score at 56 at the five and a half minute mark.

A Lowery three-pointer put GCU ahead 59-56 with 5:07 on the clock, but CBU claimed the seventh tied score of the contest at 61 with just over four minutes remaining. Keeping with the trend, GCU took the sixth lead change of the second half when Larson drained two free throws with just over two minutes to play to give the ‘Lopes a 64-63 lead. Just a few seconds later, the Lancers made it seven lead changes via a made layup. A Pickrel three-pointer made it eight lead changes as he gave GCU a 67-65 lead with 1:40 on the clock.

The tightly contested game remained that way for the final minute as CBU took a 68-67 advantage with one minute, marking the ninth lead change of the second half alone. The Lancers made a basket with under 15 seconds to play, forcing a GCU timeout as they found themselves trailing by three points, 70-67.

Pickrel, for the second time in the game, made a remarkable three-pointer with two seconds left to tie the game at 70 and force overtime.

Neither team was able to score in extra minutes until the Lancers made it 72-70 with three minutes to play. Pickrel drained his fourth three-point basket of the game to hand GCU a 73-72 advantage and a Larson layup gave the ‘Lopes a three-point lead with one and a half minutes on the clock.

The Lancers pulled within one point before being forced to foul Lowery with 4.7 seconds left. Lowery went on to make both free throws and seal the victory for the ‘Lopes as the CBU three-point attempt at the buzzer fell short.

GCU will head to San Diego to continue their Southern California road trip with a contest at Point Loma on Saturday at 4 p.m. (Arizona time). Fans can follow the action via live video by visiting www.gculopes.com.

GCU 77, CBU 74 OT