GCU drops OT heartbreaker to Omaha

Sunday, December 13

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

7-2

104

108

Omaha

5-5

OT 1

Omaha

108

Grand Canyon

104

Photo by: Darryl Webb

12/13/2015 8:47:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Steven Gonzalez

PHOENIX – The Grand Canyon men's basketball team closed out the weekend at home with a 108-104 overtime loss to Omaha. The Antelopes' 104 points were a season-high, but it wasn't enough as GCU fell to 7-2 on the season.

"That is a good team (Omaha) and I do not want to take anything away from them but we gave that game away," head coach Dan Majerle said. "We didn't play any defense because they shot 72 percent in the second half and shot 24 free-throws. We made little mistakes at the end of the game that costs us the game."

GCU came out of the gates hot not allowing Omaha to score until three minutes and thirty seconds into the game. Grandy Glaze continued to be efficient in the first half, scoring eight points in the first four minutes of thegame. GCU jumped out to an early 10-0 lead.

Making his Grand Canyon and collegiate debut, Dominic Magee scored six points in his first two minutes of action. The Lopes were able to use their size advantage to outrebound the Mavericks 22-11 in the first half. GCU dominated the paint, scoring 30 points inside compared to Omaha's 14 points.

Glaze finished the first half shooting 88.8 percent from the field with 17 points along with a team-high five rebounds as GCU went into halftime with the 47-33 lead. Forty-seven points was the most points GCU has scored in a first half this season.

"We played great in the first half but we tried to outscore them in the second half," Majerle said. "I hate losing, but hoepfully this loss will wake the guys up."

Omaha made a run to start the second half, cutting GCU's lead to just three points five minutes into the half. With 6:30 left in the game, the Mavericks pulled within one point but then a Ryan Majerle three-pointer sparked a 10-0 run to get GCU's lead back to double-digits. Omaha fought back as Devin Patterson went to the free-throw line with the chance to tie the game with six seconds left and delivered two free throws to tie the game at 94. Magee had a chance to end the game for the Lopes, but missed on a three-point attempt as time expired.

Omaha made GCU chase them in overtime, jumping out to a five-point lead but Magee tied the game at 101 with 1:38 remaining in the extra period. Omaha regained a three-point lead on their next possession and it was a lead they would never relinquish as they came away with the road win and handed GCU their first loss at home this season.

Magee and Glaze each finished the game with a game-high 29 points, combing to score 58 of GCU's 104 points. Majerle scored a season-high 13 points, connecting on four three-pointers.

The Lopes return to action on Tuesday as they host Delaware State University at Grand Canyon University Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. MT.