Lopes Defeat Bakersfield to Open WAC Play

Saturday, January 10

GCU Arena

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

10-8, 1-0

Bakersfield

4-12, 0-1

Bakersfield

Grand Canyon

Daniel Alexander scored a season-high 19 points in GCU's win over Bakersfield

Photo by: Darryl Webb

1/10/2015 8:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

GCU led by DeWayne Russell with 24 points

The Grand Canyon University men's basketball team (10-8, 1-0 WAC) opened Western Athletic Conference play with a 73-65 win over visiting CSU Bakersfield (4-12, 0-1 WAC) tonight at GCU Arena. The Antelopes shot 52.2 percent from the floor (24-for-46), their sixth game this season with a field goal percentage over 50.0 percent, en route to picking up their second straight victory.

Click here for Michael Potter's postgame interview with head coach Dan Majerle.
Click here for Michael Potter's postgame interview with DeWayne Russell.

The Lopes also drained a season-high-tying nine three-pointers, the third time they have done so this year. GCU pulled down 34 rebounds and allowed just 27 to the Roadrunners.

DeWayne Russell led the squad with a GCU career-best 24 points, just one point shy of his collegiate high, which he established in 2013. Russell also added a career-high eight assists.

Daniel Alexander collected a season-high 19 points, while Royce Woolridge was the third GCU player to finish in double figures with 13 points.

After trailing by five early, the Lopes held the 'Runners scoreless for nearly three minutes as they built a 14-10 advantage of their own with 12:42 to play in the first half. GCU led by as many as 11 points before carrying a 35-32 lead into the break.

GCU shot 46.2 percent (12-for-26) over the first 20 minutes, including an 8-for-16 mark from beyond the three-point line. Those eight three-pointers mark the most for the Lopes in a half this season. GCU was led by Alexander with 11 points, while Russell added 10 points.

CSUB posted a 41.7 field goal percentage (10-for-24) in the first half.

The second half was tightly contested, with GCU's largest lead reaching eight points, as CSUB once again closed the gap to three points, 56-53, with six and a half minutes to play. The 'Runners made it a one-point game, 61-60, three minutes later before GCU scored eight unanswered points to seal the victory.

GCU shot 60.0 percent (12-for-20) over the final 20 minutes, compared to 45.8 percent (11-for-24) for CSUB.

GCU will now hit the road for their next trio of games, beginning with a 7 p.m. matchup at Utah Valley on Thursday, Jan. 15. Fans can follow the action live by tuning in to KXXT 1010 AM Family Values Radio.

GCU 73, CSUB 65