'Lopes Erase 20-Point Deficit to Defeat Bakersfield

Saturday, February 8

GCU Arena

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

12-11, 7-3

CSU Bakersfield

9-14, 2-7

Bakersfield

Grand Canyon

Jerome Garrison and Daniel Alexander scored 28 and 18 points, respectively.

Photo by: Darryl Webb

2/8/2014 9:23:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Garrison scores game-high 28 points

Behind a signature strong second half, the Grand Canyon University men's basketball team (12-11, 7-3) overcame a 20-point deficit to defeat visiting Bakersfield (9-14, 2-7) in a Western Athletic Conference game in front of a sellout crowd at GCU Arena. The Antelopes responded to a sluggish first half by shooting 54.2 percent (13-for-24) and outscoring the Roadrunners 47-29 in the final 20 minutes to cement the 79-70 win.

Click here for Michael Potter's postgame interview with head coach Dan Majerle.
Click here for Michael Potter's postgame interview with Jerome Garrison.

The game was eerily similar to the first meeting between the two squads, when GCU found themselves down by 10 points at halftime, but outscored the 'Runners 42-29 over the final 20 minutes to win at Bakersfield.

For the game, GCU shot 47.8 percent (22-for-46) and used strong defensive pressure to limit the 'Runners to 44.3 percent (27-for-61), including a 12-for-32 mark (37.5 percent) in the second half. CSUB narrowly won the rebounding battle, 36-34.

Jerome Garrison led the offensive efforts with 28 points, while Daniel Alexander matched his career-high for the third time with 18 points. Killian Larson recorded his 15^th double-double of the year with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

The teams traded baskets to open the game with neither leading by more than four points over the first seven minutes until the 'Runners built a 13-point advantage, 26-13, with just over nine minutes on the clock. That lead came via a 16-3 run that was sparked after GCU had knotted the score at 10 four minutes earlier.

The 'Runners led by as many as 20 points, but the 'Lopes rallied with a 12-1 run to pull within nine points, 41-32, at the one-minute mark, the same score that would carry into the break. The 'Lopes shot 40.9 percent in the first 20 minutes (9-for-22) compared to a 51.7 mark (15-for-29) for the 'Runners. CSUB used a 25-10 advantage in points in the paint and an 18-15 rebound margin to hold the lead at the half.

Garrison hit a three-pointer within the first 25 seconds of the second half to cut the 'Runners lead to six points, 41-35. CSUB saw the 'Lopes pull within one point at the 12 and a half-minute mark after GCU's defense held the 'Runners to just seven points in that time.

GCU took their first lead of the game, 49-48, following two Garrison free throws with 11:45 on the clock. Those followed a 9-0 run that propelled the 'Lopes to within one before Garrison drew the foul.

The game saw four tied scores and eight lead changes over the next eight minutes before the 'Lopes went ahead by a game-high 11 points with under 15 seconds to play.

GCU will have next week off and will return to WAC play when they travel to Seattle for an 8 p.m. (Arizona time) game on Feb. 20. The game can be heard live by tuning in to KKNT 960 AM or www.960thepatriot.com.

GCU 79, CSUB 70