Johnson spree ends 'Beat GCU' bid

Saturday, January 26

Riverside, Calif.

8 p.m.

Grand Canyon

California Baptist

Grand Canyon

California Baptist

1/27/2019 12:13:00 AM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro

Box Score Postgame with Carlos Johnson Postgame with Coach Majerle

Junior scores 18 consecutive Lopes points in 90-73 win at CBU

By: <a href="http://gculopes.com/index.aspx?path=coro">Paul Coro</a>

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — The CBU Events Center reserves three courtside sections for its "Crazies," students who hold a hand symbol for "Lance Up" on free throws and unveil a section-covering banner during pregame festivities.

After Grand Canyon won 90-73 at California Baptist on Saturday night, Lopes head coach Dan Majerle attested that his team's first WAC experience with new conference member CBU actually was not familiar even for all the mimicked GCU features. He said it did not approach GCU Arena or the Havocs. And neither did the Lancers basketball team.

"Lopes Up" meant Lopes way up, as GCU (13-7, 6-1 WAC) remained in a first-place conference tie on the strength of junior guard Carlos Johnson's second consecutive career-high scoring game.

"We knew that this was going to be a game that they would be up for, a game that they would want to win in the worst way and our guys responded," Majerle said in a sold-out, 5,050-seat arena blanked with white "LANCERS BEAT GCU" T-shirts.

Johnson followed last Saturday's 21-point game with 26 points on Saturday, giving him seven consecutive double-digit scoring games off the bench.

When GCU put on a second-half show, it was "Late Night with Los" as the Lopes junior guard scored 18 consecutive GCU points. Johnson was the only player on the court scoring for the final 12 of those points with his drives, 3-pointers, free throws and a tip-in putting GCU ahead 68-52 with 10 minutes remaining.

"We saw that they were switching off, putting a big on me, so I was just going to stare the big in the eye and make him guard me," Johnson said. "Either he's going to stop this 3 or I'm going to get right by him because I know he's not faster than me. I just made the right reads and came up with some good plays."

Limited by fouls in the first half, Johnson posted GCU's second-highest individual scoring game of the season (26) in only 18 minutes. He was ultra-efficient, making 11 of 15 shots (he was 11 for 12 at one point) and not committing a turnover while grabbing three steals.

Meanwhile, the Lopes defense unnerved WAC-leading scorer Milan Acquaah, who went 4 for 14 from the field with six turnovers and outward frustration. He came in with a 22-point scoring average, ranking 17th in the nation, and left with 12 points.

Senior Gerard Martin and freshman Tim Finke drew the primary duty on Acquaah, with junior Oscar Frayer out for a foot injury, but the Lopes blitzed the Washington State transfer on screens with secondary attention too.

"I thought our guys, all around, all five guys, really focused on the game plan and did a good job," Majerle said. "Gerard and Tim are two of our best one-on-one defenders and that's why they were guarding him.

"We played really good defense and we played the way we were supposed to play and we shut him down. He's a good player. He's very, very talented."

CBU (10-9, 2-4 WAC) matched the game hype with a 13-5 start over the first six minutes but the defense of the Lopes bench created turnovers that sparked a 24-9 stretch. The Lancers made 14 of 21 shots in the first half with 8-of-10 3-point shooting but committed 12 turnovers that led to 15 Lopes points.

GCU held CBU to 39 percent shooting in the second half to give GCU three consecutive conference victories by at least 15 points for the first time in its six-year conference membership. It was also GCU's first 90-point game in the WAC in three years and the team's fewest turnovers (six) in a WAC game in three years.

"Our game traveled today," Majerle said. "We talk about how good of a home team we are (9-0) and we have to be just as good on the road. We weren't that defensively in the first half. We really picked it up in the second half."

Johnson's scoring was backed by 13 from sophomore center Alessandro Lever (4 for 8 after an 0-for-6 start facing some double-teaming), 11 points and five assists by sophomore point guard Damari Milstead and 10 points and eight rebounds from senior guard Trey Drechsel, a guard who ranks third in WAC play for rebounds per game at 8.0.

Senior power forward Matt Jackson returned after a four-game absence and looked fluid and physical in 16 minutes despite coming off a rib injury.

The Lopes' improving 3-point shooting did not continue initially Saturday, when they were 3 for 16 from long distance at one stage when they trailed early in the second half. But they made 4 of 7 after that, including Johnson hitting two to make him 5 for 10 in the past four games after going 6 for 36 on 3s previously. He turned to Majerle after one in front of the Lopes' bench.

"I looked at him and told him, 'I got that; don't always believe the percentages,' " Johnson said. "I can shoot that. When the game's going, I feel it."

The victory set up a first-place showdown next Saturday, when GCU travels to CSU Bakersfield (14-6, 6-1 WAC). By then, New Mexico State (16-4, 5-1 WAC) could make it a three-way tie with a home win Thursday against Kansas City.

"That'll be a battle," Majerle said of Saturday's game at Bakersfield, where GCU lost last season.

The atmosphere was flattering to GCU in its imitation and impressive in its execution, given that California Baptist is just starting the four-year Division I transition that GCU finished in 2017.

"Not even close," Majerle said of any game-experience similarities. "Nothing comes close to the Havocs.

"This is good for the league. I told their coach he's doing a great job. These four years will go by real quick. They're going to be a really good team for us in the WAC so I'm happy for them but nothing compares to the Havocs. Not even close. Period. Havocs are the best. Did you hear our fans up there? Nothing like the Lope Nation."

Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.