PHOENIX – Seattle University men's basketball nearly took down Western Athletic Conference leader Grand Canyon for a fourth consecutive time in regular-season play Thursday night in Phoenix. But after holding a narrow lead multiple times down the stretch of regulation, and forcing overtime, the Lopes defended home court as the Redhawks did less than two weeks earlier, in a 95-88 overtime final at Global Credit Union Arena.
Seattle U dropped to 12-9 overall and an even 5-5 in WAC play. GCU maintained the nation's best record, moving to 20-2 overall and 10-1 in the WAC.
Cameron Tyson led four Redhawks to score in double figures, finishing with 20 points. John Christofilis and Alex Schumacher added 19 points each. Kobe Williamson collected an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double.
GCU was paced byGabe McGlothan's 25 points. Ray Harrison had 21 points and Tyson Grant-Foster added 15.
Both sides shot better than 50% in the first half and combined for 11 made three's. GCU would lead by as many as 10 in the frame before taking a 46-41 lead into the break. Christofilis knocked down 4-of-7 from three in the half to lead all scorers with 14 points.
An 11-2 run to start the second half saw the Lopes open up their largest lead of the night, 57-43. Schumacher converted a layup off a GCU turnover and Tyson scored the Redhawks' next eight straight points to trim the spread back down to six.
Trailing 66-58 with 9:20 to play, Seattle U held the Lopes without a field goal for nearly four minutes while using a 9-0 run capped by a Christofilis fast break layup to take a 67-66 advantage. The game remained a one-possession, back-and-forth affair for the remainder of regulation.
Down two inside a minute to play, Schumacher converted a jumper in the pain to tie the score at 78 and the Redhawks forced a shot clock turnover at the other end to send the game into extra time.
In the extra frame, the Lopes scored the first five points and Seattle U could get no closer than three as GCU sealed the win at the line.
The Redhawks continue on the road Saturday, traveling to Riverside, Calif., to face California Baptist. Tip off from the Dale E. And Sarah Ann Flower Events Center is 5 p.m.
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