Winning streak ends at five with loss to CSU Bakersfield

Saturday, February 27

Bakersfield, Calif.

8 p.m.

Grand Canyon

24-5, 10-3WAC

CSU Bakersfield

20-8, 10-3WAC

Grand Canyon

CSU Bakersfield

Winning streak ends at five with loss to CSU Bakersfield

2/28/2016 7:03:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Charles Hampton

The Grand Canyon men's basketball team had its five-game winning streak snapped as it fell on the road 77-62 to CSU Bakersfield on Saturday night. The Lopes are now 24-5 and tied with the Roadrunners for second place with a 10-3 conference record in the WAC.

"I thought it was just an awful performance," head coach Dan Majerle said after the game. "We just didn't come out and fight, didn't do a good job defensively. I just told them in there, we think we are one of those most prepared teams around. Our coaching staff of Todd Lee, Chris Crevelone, and T.J. Benson does a fantastic job with these guys with everything they run through, what we're doing, and how to run it. For some reason, we've got guys that just don't want to guard."

The Lopes poor shooting woes reared its head again as GCU was just 3-of-16 from 3-point range, including 1-of-7 from the first half.

"Guys miss shots—that happens," Majerle added. "What I don't think can happen is that we missed layups and that can't happen. But missing jump shots is a part of the game and you're going to have your ins and outs."

GCU got out to an early five-point lead after Joshua Braun hit a 3-pointer to give the Lopes an 11-6 lead just over five minutes into the game. That was when GCU's defensive struggles kicked in as CSU Bakersfield used a 17-5 run to open up a 10-point lead. The Runners shot 53.6 percent from the field in the first half as they took an 11-point lead into intermission. Unfortunately, that would be the closest the Lopes would get the rest of the way as they failed to string together another second-half run like they have so many other times this season.

The Lopes shot only 37.5 percent from the field in the first half, while allowing the Roadrunners to shoot 53.6 percent. In the second half, GCU improved slightly to shoot 40.8 percent for the game, but allowed CSU Bakersfield to still hit 48.4 percent of their shots.

"They're the best defensive team in the WAC," Majerled said. "(That) team is averaging 33 percent field goal percentage (on defense). We knew it was going to be a grind out game. We said we want to shoot in the low 40s. That's fine, but we've got to hold them to low 40s too. At a point there, they were shooting 56 percent-60 percent. They ended up shooting 53 percent and we shot 37 percent, which is what they give up. I can live with the 37 percent because Josh wasn't on and we missed some shots that were open. That's fine, but we can't allow them to shoot 53 percent, that's unforgivable."

De'Andre Davis led the Lopes in scoring for the first time since the season opener, scoring 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field. Grandy Glaze was the only other Grand Canyon player to scored in double-figures, collecting his team-leading 12th double-double, with 12 points and 12 rebounds in 32 minutes of action. Despite only scoring seven points, Braun tied a career-high with three blocked shots.

The loss was the Lopes' first one to the Roadrunners since they transitioned to Division I after winning the last five contests between the two schools. The men will next travel up to Moraga, Calif. where they will take on Saint Mary's College on Tuesday, March 1. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. MT.