'Lopes Win Close Contest over Azusa Pacific

Monday, January 21

GCU Arena

3:15 PM

Grand Canyon

Azusa Pacific

Joshua Lowery

Photo by: Darryl Webb

1/21/2013 5:14:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Remain perfect at home

The Grand Canyon University men’s basketball team came out winners over Azusa Pacific today, 50-49, at GCU Arena. With the win, the Antelopes improved to 16-4 overall and 7-2 in the Pacific West Conference. The Cougars fell to 6-8 overall and 3-3 in conference play.

The win also preserved GCU’s perfect mark at home (12-0).

Click here to view a clip of Joshua Lowery's game-winning shot.

Joshua Lowery was the high-scorer in the game with 18 points, while Killian Larson pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds.

The ‘Lopes shot 34.0 percent in the game (17-for-50) and scored 13 points off 10 Cougars turnovers. The two squads scored 18 points in the paint in a contest that saw six tied scores and nine lead changes.

Both teams were on the defense early as neither was able to break the double-digit scoring mark in the game’s first seven minutes until the Cougars opened an 11-6 lead with 13:05 on the clock. GCU then scored eight unanswered points to claim a 14-11 advantage with just over eight minutes remaining in the first.

The ‘Lopes retained that lead for the remainder of the half after outscoring APU 15-8, as their 26-19 lead matched their largest in the first 20 minutes.

GCU shot 37.5 percent (9-for-24) from the field, while the Cougars went 8-for-24 (33.3 percent) in the first half. The teams were evenly matched in points in the paint (10), while the ‘Lopes held a slight advantage in rebounds (17-15).

The ‘Lopes were led by Lowery with eight points, while Braylon Pickrel and Jerome Garrison each had five points.

The second half looked much like the first at the onset, with neither team able to get their offense going in the first few minutes. The Cougars made it a three-point contest, 31-28, at the 13 minute mark after outscoring the ‘Lopes 9-5 in that time.

APU then used an 8-4 run to reclaim the lead, 36-35, with just over nine minutes on the clock. That would be short-lived as the ‘Lopes scored five unanswered points; however, a 7-2 Cougars run put the visitors back on top, 43-42, with 6:05 remaining.

The game went back and forth at that point, with neither team leading by more than three points. APU took a 49-48 lead with just under two minutes to play and neither team scored until Lowery made a layup with just 14 seconds until time expired. The Cougars turned the ball over on their side of the court, sealing the victory for GCU.

APU posted a better shooting percentage in the second half (45.5), while the ‘Lopes were hampered by a 30.8 percent mark from the field.

The ‘Lopes will next host California Baptist on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at GCU Arena. The last meeting between the two was an overtime thriller in Riverside. Fans can follow the action via live video by visiting www.gculopes.com.

GCU 50, APU 49