'Lopes Rally to Improve to 2-1 in WAC

Thursday, January 9

Bakersfield, CA

8 p.m.

Grand Canyon

7-9, 2-1

CSU Bakersfield

7-9, 0-2

Grand Canyon

Bakersfield

Sam Daly had 12 in his first start for GCU.

Photo by: Darryl Webb

1/9/2014 11:07:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Outscore Bakersfield 42-29 in second half

The Grand Canyon men's basketball team used a spirited finish to claim their first true road win of the season, knocking off Bakersfield 66-63 at the Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield, Calif.

The win improved the Antelopes to 7-9 overall, 2-1 in the Western Athletic Conference. Bakersfield fell to 7-9, 0-2 in the WAC.

Dan Majerle's postgame interview with Michael Potter.

Sam Daly's postgame interview with Michael Potter.

With 8:36 remaining in the game, and after a 15-0 run put GCU in front 45-41, Killian Larson picked up his fourth and fifth fouls on a personal foul and technical foul on the same play.

Bakersfield grabbed the momentum with four-straight free throws and a three-pointer to earn a 48-45 lead.

Jake Zuilhof came off the bench for Larson and made two big buckets, one a three-point play to give the Antelopes a 52-48 lead. The Roadrunners managed to tie the game at 52 with 4:15 left, but would not lead again.

Daniel Alexander, who was quiet in the game in the first half, nailed a three-pointer from the right side to put the Antelopes up 55-52. Jerome Garrison and Sam Daly then made back-to-back baskets to increase the lead to 59-52 with 2:14 left, sealing the victory.

GCU shot a blistering 65.2 percent (15-for-23) in the second half, aided by a 20-4 points in the paint advantage over the final 20 minutes. The shooting percentage in the second half was a season-high for the Antelopes this season.

Daly, a second semester addition to the roster, made his first start of the season and scored 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting and added five assists.

Larson finished with a team-high 13 points and recorded nine boards before exiting. Alexander made seven free throws en route to a 12 point night. Blake Davis played all 40 minutes and had 11 points.

After falling behind 5-0 to start the game, the Antelopes rallied and held a 13-7 lead with 14:05 remaining in the half. GCU would then struggle from the floor and the Roadrunners went on a 15-1 run that gave them a 22-14 lead with 9:13 left in the half. GCU used a pair of free throws from Jerome Garrison and a three from Davis to cut the margin to three. Bakersfield closed out the half, outscoring the 'Lopes 12-5 to lead by 10 at the intermission at 34-24.

Grand Canyon will now make the trip to Orem, Utah where they will face Utah Valley on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. The Wolverines are 1-0 in the conference this season after an 82-74 win at Bakersfield last Saturday. The game can be heard live in the Valley on Faith Talk 1360 AM or online at www.faithtalk1360.com.

GCU 66 CSUB 63