Grand Canyon’s 22 turnovers led to 27 California Baptist points in an 85-71 men’s basketball WAC loss in the Fowler Events Center in Riverside, California, on Saturday night.
The Lopes (17-6, 7-2) lost their grip on first place in the conference with one of their worst-shooting performances from the free-throw line (12 of 23). They also were outrebound 40-39 and watched the Lancers (12-11, 5-4) make 23-of-28 free throws.
Utah Valley (17-7, 9-1), which lost at GCU last week, regained sole possession of first place.
Tyon Grant-Foster led GCU with 15 points but he made only 4-of-9 free throws. He also had six rebounds. Guards Collin Moore and Makaih Williams combined for 12 points on 3-of-14 shooting and seven turnovers.
JaKobe Coles had 11 points and Ray Harrison and Lok Wur each had 10 for the Lopes, who head back on the road in Texas for tough games against Tarleton State on Thursday and UT Arlington on Saturday.
CBU was led by Tylen Riley’s 25 points and Kendal Coleman’s 19 points. Riley made 13-of-6 free throws.
“We should have played much better than we did,” coach Bryce Drew said in the GCU postgame radio interview. “I think that’s the game of the year for them. Riley was fantastic. Coleman was terrific. They played really, really well.”
CBU capitalized on 15 offensive rebounds, had 46 points in the paint and 20 second-chance points. Nine of those offensive rebounds came in the first half when the Lancers scored 12 second-chance points and led 47-41, shooting 46% from the field and making 8-of-11 free throws, and 3-of-10 3-pointers.
“I thought they were more physical than us in the first half,” Drew said. “That set a tone. And how the game was being called set the tone one way. We made a couple of runs in the first half. In the second half, we never put together a run. …
“Forty-seven in the first half is not good defense. The team is usually much better on the defensive end, and that’s where it all started.”
Williams ended up fouling out with seven points, four assists and three turnovers in 22 minutes.
Center Duke Brennan was held to six points (3-4 FGs) and nine rebounds and didn’t get to the free-throw line in 31 minutes.
“On the road, you have be mentally tough and connected and together,” Drew said. “I didn’t think we were at our best in those two areas. … We have to be more hungry together as a group on the court. And we have to be mentally tougher as a group on the court.”
GCU women roll to 20th straight win
The Grand Canyon women’s team had no trouble putting away Cal Baptist at home Saturday afternoon to notch its 20th consecutive win, 84-55.
GCU, having its best Division I season under coach Molly Miller, improved to 22-2 overall, 9-0 in the WAC.
The Lopes shot 52% from the field and 48% from 3 and held a 34-23 rebounding edge, while making 16 steals.
GCU has the second-longest current win streak in the nation for Division I schools, behind UCLA.
GCU’s 15 home wins are a single-season program record.
Laura Erikstrup had her seventh double-double of the season with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Forward Tiarra Brown led the Lopes with 22 points, her season high. The Lopes made 11 3-pointers with Alyssa Durazo-Frescas knocking down four of them. She has made 83 3-pointers this year, which ranks second in the country.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: GCU basketball’s 6-game win streak end at Cal Baptist
