The Grand Canyon University men’s basketball team (9-8) finished its non conference part of its schedule with a 71-69 win over UC Riverside (7-7) on January 4th 2015. The Lopes have now won four out of their last five games. Conversely, the Highlanders have dropped three of their last four games.
After a close first half the Lopes led 32-28. In the second half GCU had the lead 45-33 with little over 15 minutes. URC kept battling and pulled within two points at 69-67 with just 47 seconds left. Royce Woolridge made two costless throws to put the Lopes up by 4 when UCR’s Nick Gruninger made two costless throws to cut it to 71-69 with 11 seconds on the clock. Woolridge then turned the ball over with 3 seconds left in the game. Jaylen Bland missed a three point shot as time expired to give GCU the victory.
GCU guard DeWayne Russell scored 19 points. Woolridge also scored 18 points with Josh Braun adding 15 points.
UC Riverside’s Jaylen Bland scored a game high 26 points and made 6 three pointers. Steven Thornton also tied his season high with 15 points for the Highlanders. UCR out rebounded the Lopes 42-35.
GCU shot 46.5 percent (20-43) for the game and UCR shot 34.8 (23-66). The Highlanders kept the score close hitting 9 three pointers.
After taking on the likes of number one ranked Kentucky, Indiana, New Mexico, and Harvard, the Lopes will begin Western Athletic Conference (WAC) play when they host Cal State Bakersfield at Grand Canyon University Arena on Saturday, 10 January 2015 at 7 p.m. UC Riverside will face Cal State Fullerton as they also begin Big West Conference play at SRC arena on January 8th at 7 p.m.