BAKERSFIELD, Calif.- For the second time in two conference games the results were eerily similar for the Bakersfield Roadrunners who let a second-half lead slip while allowing the visiting Grand Canyon Antelopes to shoot over 65% in the second frame before falling 66-63 in Western Athletic Conference action Thursday night.

“We're a team that's struggling with confidence right now,” said head coach Rod Barnes. “Our guys need to get back to playing to win instead of playing not to lose. Now we have to go on the road to try to repair the damage we allowed to be done to us at home.”

Bakersfield (7-9, 0-2 WAC) played stellar defense in the first half, limited the Antelopes to just 27% from the floor while recording six steals en route to a 10-point halftime lead. CSUB would lead by as many as 12 in second half and were up 11 points with 15:56 to play.

That's when things changed once again for the Roadrunners.

Grand Canyon (7-9, 2-1 WAC) then proceeded on a 15-0 run holding Bakersfield scoreless over a 7:26 stretch while building their own four-point lead. The Antelopes appeared to open the door for a Bakersfield comeback when leading scorer Killian Larson fouled out of the game with 8:35 to play after committing a personal foul and receiving a technical foul as well. CSUB then tied the game at 45 on four straight free-throws and took the lead on an Issiah Grayson (R-Sr., Atlanta, Ga., Southern Idaho CC) three-pointer with 8:11 to play.

Again Grand Canyon went on the offensive with a 7-0 run to retake the lead. Bakersfield managed to tie the game again with 4:13 to play at 52 apiece. That would be as close as they would get as the Antelopes went on another 7-0 run over the next two minutes to take the lead for good.

“Because it was such a long stretch with our offense not getting a basket it ended up hurting our defensive effort,” Barnes said. “You can't do that, our guys have to learn to grind it out when we're not playing well; we just have to hang in there and make some plays and we didn't tonight.”

The 'Runners still managed several late chances but were cold in the second half shooting just 7-of-28 (25%) from the field and 2-of-8 from three-point range while missing four of their last five shots before falling by three points.

Grand Canyon was 15-of-23 in the second half, good for 65%, the highest shooting percentage the Roadrunners have given up in any half this season. They also outscored the 'Runners in the paint 20-4 in the second half.

CSUB was led once again by Grayson who scored 19 points on 5-of-10 shooting and 8-of-8 from three-point range. Javonte Maynor (R-Jr., Atlanta, Ga., Georgia State) added 11 for the 'Runners while Brandon Barnes (R-Jr., Atlanta, Ga., Lipscomb) and Aly Ahmed (So., Alexandria, Egypt, Midlands CC) each added nine points and five rebounds for the Roadrunners.

Killian Larson led four Antelopes in double figures with 13 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Sam Daly and Daniel Alexander added 12 apiece for Grand Canyon.

The Roadrunners now head back out on the road for a pair of WAC games next week. They'll play at Seattle on Thursday night Jan. 16, before taking on Idaho, Saturday, Jan. 18. Both games tip at 7 P.M.