2nd chance in WAC starts at CBU

Saturday, Feb. 8 \| 8 p.m. \| Riverside, Calif.

	GRAND CANYON LOPES (9-13, 4-4 WAC)	VS	CALIFORNIA BAPTIST LANCERS (17-6, 7-2 WAC)

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The first half of Grand Canyon's conference season did not meet the team's expectations but it did not take the Lopes out of a good position in the conference race.

GCU enters the second half of WAC play in a tie for the No. 2 tournament seeding because its Saturday night opponent, California Baptist (17-6, 7-2 WAC), is not eligible in its second year of the four-year Division I transition.

The Lancers snapped a 22-game losing streak against the Lopes when it won 61-57 on Jan. 11 at GCU, where the Lopes shot a season-worst 33.8% from the field. The Lopes are 4-2 since then but are coming off a 72-52 loss at WAC leader New Mexico State on Saturday.

"We owe them one," Majerle said. "It was probably one of our worst offensive games of the year. We had a hard time scoring but it's going to be good with a week to prepare."

CBU loaded up on home games this season, making the GCU visit its 17th home game in its first 24 games. The Lancers have gone 12-4 at home, where the environment replicated the GCU Arena atmosphere in multiple ways.

CBU is the WAC leader in scoring offense (78.9 points per game), free throw percentage (77.3%) and opponent field goal percentage (41.0%) and enters Saturday after winning three tight conference games in a row. The Lancers defeated CSU Bakersfield 74-69 on Thursday night while the Lopes were idle.

"I don't think anybody in here has lost faith," Lopes freshman point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr. said. "It's a rough time but we can get it together. We want to be on top always. We've been working real hard and being intense.

"We got to see how they were (in the first meeting). We know what they're good at and what they're bad at so I feel like we'll take better advantage of it. If we execute, we'll get the W."

CBU boasts the WAC's second-leading scorer in junior guard Milan Acquaah, who averages 17.3 points per game and is 14 points shy of having 1,000 points in two seasons since transferring from Washington State. But the WAC Preseason Player of the Year is shooting 36.5% from the field this season and has shot 29.7% against GCU in three meetings.

Lancers junior guard Ferron Flavors Jr. has been just as much of a scoring threat, averaging 14.2 points per game with the WAC's second-best 3-point shooting percentage (42.2). He made 5 of 8 shots from 3-point range in Thursday's win to score 21.

"We already took everybody's first punch and saw what everybody had to offer," GCU freshman power forward Bryce Okpoh said. "Now, we have to play our game. We've been playing everybody else's game in the first half so it's time to play our game.

"The conference is still up for grabs with everyone still in the mix except New Mexico State."

Lopes tracks

GCU ranks in the national top 50 for least turnovers per game (11.8) and free throw percentage (75.5%).
Lopes junior swingman Carlos Johnson has scored in double digits in 10 consecutive games, the longest streak since DeWayne Russell ended his career with a 33-game streak in 2017.
After Saturday's game, GCU will play five of its final seven regular-season games at home.
CBU averages home crowds of 3,066 fans per game.
Lancers senior power forward De'jon Davis is the WAC rebounding leader at 9.4 boards per game and ranks third in field goal percentage at 53.6%.

Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.

Saturday, Feb. 8 | 8 p.m. | Riverside, Calif.

Players Mentioned

Jovan Blacksher Jr.

Carlos Johnson

Bryce Okpoh

DeWayne Russell

Grand Canyon University Athletics