Kansas City
Grand Canyon
First-Place Lopes Hold Off Kangaroos, 85-78
1/23/2016 10:26:00 PM | Men's Basketball
(Kansas City, Mo.) - A Grand Canyon run in the second half proved to be the difference on Saturday night at Muni, as UMKC couldn't find a way to get enough stops to get the victory, falling 85-78.
The opening half was back and forth, with five ties and six lead changes. The two squads were strong on offense, with neither team leading by more than six points. The difference in the period proved to be from the three-point line, as Grand Canyon (18-2, 5-0 WAC) hit 7-of-10 from long range, including four from Joshua Braun, who had a big night.
Seven different players scored for the Roos (8-13, 1-5 WAC) in the period for a balanced attack, as they shot 50 percent from the field. A GCU three with 50 seconds left before the break was the difference, and the Lopes took a 38-35 lead into the half.
The final stanza was much of the same for both teams on offense, but GCU made a few more shots, hitting 57 percent. A 12-0 Lopes' run that spanned four minutes from the 12 minute mark until 8:10 remained was the big momentum swing that cost UMKC. After the rally, UMKC trailed 65-51.
The closest the Roos could get from there was five points with 47 seconds left. Martez Harrison and LaVell Boyd each tallied 11 second half points, but it wasn't enough, as Braun scored 18 in the final half and 31 for the game, the most allowed by an opposing player all year.
The Roos had a 36-30 edge on the boards, but in the end it all came down to getting stops, and GCU's offense was efficient, hitting 58 percent from three, the highest opponent percentage all season against UMKC.
Harrison led the way for the Roos with 20 points, while Kyle Steward set career highs in both scoring and rebounding with 13 and 10, the third double-double for a UMKC player this year. Boyd finished with 13 points, while Dashawn King tallied 12. Shayok Shayok was limited touches in the post, and finished with nine points and eight rebounds.
UMKC will host Chicago State on Saturday to finish a three-game home stand. The game is scheduled for a 2:05 p.m. tipoff.
