PHOENIX, Ariz.- Despite a fast start and their largest lead in a WAC game, the CSUB Roadrunners allowed a 20-point advantage evaporate over the final 24 minutes of play Saturday night as they fell 79-70 to Grand Canyon in Phoenix.

Bakersfield rolled out to the early lead by dominating on the drive and defensively holding the Antelopes while building a 40-20 lead with 4:11 left in the first half. Much like the first meeting with Grand Canyon however, the Antelopes took advantage of missed Bakersfield shots and turnovers to close out the first half on a 12-1 run. Holding CSUB without a field goal in the process.

The Roadrunners were 15-of-29 in the first half, good for nearly 52% from the field, but in the second half they struggled to finish around the basket, going just 12-of-32 from the field and 0-of-6 from three-point range. More costly for the Roadrunners was a sluggish defense that allowed the Antelopes to shoot 13-of-24 from the field good, for over 54%. The 'Lopes were also 5-of-10 from three-point range knocking down many open looks as a result of defensive miscues.

“We went such a long stretch there without getting anything offensively, once in the first half and again in the second half,” said head coach Rod Barnes. “We also had several times where we missed wide open layups underneath and that affects your defensive intensity and it hurt us tonight.

Jerome Garrison, the WAC's leading scorer in conference games, was scoreless until the six-minute mark of the first half. He led the Antelopes with 28 points over on 5-of-8 shooting and 15-of-16 from the free throw line.

Bakersfield was led by Brandon Barnes (R-Jr., Atlanta, Ga., Lipscomb) and his 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field. Issiah Grayson (R-Sr., Atlanta, Ga., Southern Idaho CC) added 14 points on 4-of-10 from the field. Aly Ahmed (So., Alexandria, Egypt, Midlands CC) scored 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting but played just 14 minutes due to foul trouble.

“When you go on the road, teams are going to make a run on you, we got up 20, went into half up by nine and that's ok on the road,” Barnes said. “I thought for 12 minutes we played the best basketball we've played all season, but I just thought in the second half they attacked us offensively similar to the last time we played them and we didn't have the composure we had in the first half.”

Killian Larsen secured his NCAA-best 15^th double-double of the season with 13 points and 13 rebounds for Grand Canyon.

CSUB returns home on Thursday, Feb., 7 hosting Idaho at the Icardo Center. The Vandals took the first meeting against Bakersfield 64-61 in Moscow, Idaho on Jan. 18.