GCU Rally Falls Short Against Utah Valley

Thursday, February 6

GCU Arena

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

11-11, 6-3

Utah Valley

14-8, 8-1

Utah Valley

Grand Canyon

Killian Larson led GCU with 24 points

Photo by: Darryl Webb

2/6/2014 9:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

'Lopes return home for 7 p.m. contest Saturday versus Bakersfield

In a battle between two of the top teams in the Western Athletic Conference, Utah Valley (14-8, 8-1) outlasted Grand Canyon (11-11, 6-3) tonight at GCU Arena to snap the Antelopes' four-game win streak. The Wolverines secured their spot atop the conference standings for another day with the 79-68 victory, handing GCU just their second loss at home this season.

Click here for Michael Potter's postgame interview with head coach Dan Majerle.
Click here for highlight's from the game.

GCU was led by Killian Larson's 24 points, while Jerome Garrison added 19 and Daniel Alexander had 15. The 'Lopes shot 44.0 percent for the game (22-for-50), and used sharp shooting in the second half (14-for-26, 53.8 percent) to erase a nine-point halftime deficit. GCU held the advantage in points in the paint, 24-20, but were outrebounded by the Wolverines, 29-25.

The game opened with both teams effective from the field and subsequently trading baskets before GCU used a 7-0 run to build a 15-7 lead with just over 13 minutes to play. The Wolverines answered with six straight points of their own to make it a two-point game, 15-13, at the 10:45 mark. UVU took the 18-17 lead over three minutes later and scored 10 of the next 12 points to build that to 28-19 with 2:15 on the clock.

All told, UVU used a 21-4 run beginning at the 12:32 mark that spanned nearly 10 minutes to overcome an eight-point deficit, during which time GCU had only one field goal. The Wolverines led by as many as 11 points before taking a 32-23 lead into the break.

The 23 points marked the second-fewest in the first half for the 'Lopes this season, as they scored 20 on Nov. 21 at Utah.

GCU went 8-for-24 from the field (33.3 percent) compared to a 45.8 mark (11-for-24) for UVU, who were also 4-for-9 from the three-point line. Larson led GCU at the half with 10 points, while Alexander added seven.

The teams went back and forth to open the second half, but the Wolverines kept GCU at bay, not allowing them to come closer than eight over the first eight minutes. The 'Lopes pulled within three points, 50-47, following a 12-2 run highlighted by a successfully converted three-point play from Larson.

GCU continued to chip away and knotted the score at 54 with eight and a half minutes to play, but UVU responded with an 8-0 run as the 'Lopes were held scoreless for nearly four minutes. The Wolverines built another double-digit lead, this time with just over two minutes to play, and never looked back as GCU was forced to foul down the stretch. UVU was clutch from the free throw line throughout the entire game, draining 27 of their 29 attempts (93.1 percent).

GCU remains at home for a 7 p.m. contest against Bakersfield on Saturday. The game will be broadcast live on Cox7 (and www.cox7.com) and on KPQX 1360 AM (and www.faithtalk1360.com).

UVU 79, GCU 68