BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - A tightly-played Western Athletic Conference matchup came down to the final two minutes Saturday night as the Grand Canyon Antelopes (14-11, 5-3 WAC) managed to convert on a pair of CSUB turnovers including a game-winning three-pointer with a minute to play as they snapped the 'Runners (9-15, 4-4 WAC) four-game winning streak 78-76 at the Icardo Center.

The contest saw 10 ties and 11 lead changes, all building towards the final two minutes. The 'Runners turned the ball over with 1:50 to play, opening the door for Ryan Majerle to hit the eventual game-winning three-pointer with just over one minute left. Aly Ahmed (Jr., Alexandria, Egypt, Midland CC) missed a pair of free throws and video review gave the ball back to Grand Canyon with just under 40 seconds left on the following possession.

“Give them some credit, they made some big shots,” said CSUB head coach Rod Barnes. “These are the types of games you are going to have when you have teams with parody, they miss a couple of shots, we get the rebound and we probably win the game, but they made the shots and did what they had to do.”

“I'm proud of our kids, we hung in there, I thought we had some tough calls there but I thought our guys played through them and they hit some big shots. Several times we could have dropped our heads and turned it in but our kids kept fighting.”

Despite a pair of late three-pointers from Javonte Maynor (R-Sr., Atlanta, Ga., Georgia State) the Antelopes held off the late CSUB push by forcing another turnovers and making four free throws.

Grand Canyon led at half 37-34. The Roadrunners led by as many as 10 points early in the game but the Antelopes closed out the first half on a 16-5 run. The Roadrunners played another strong game offensively shooting a combined 27-of-51 from the field (53%) and 8-of-13 (62%) from three-point range. Grand Canyon however was stronger in the second half, shooting 12-of-19 (63%) and 5-of-8 (63%) from three-point range. The Antelopes were a combined 10-of-22 from three-point range in the game.

Joshua Braun led Grand Canyon with 20 points, including 15 in the first half and 4-of-9 from three-point range. Majerle added 19 for the Antelopes in the win.

Free throws were problematic for the Roadrunners who were just 10-of-17 from the line in the second half and 14-of-23 in the game. Aly Ahmed led the 'Runners with 16 points on 7-of-14 shooting but he managed just 2-of-7 from the free throw line. Ahmed however picked up his sixth double-double of the season by adding 11 rebounds.

“Now we've got guys making shots, we're going to shore up our defense, they're an offensive team and I thought we played with them on the offensive end,” Barnes said. “I thought we didn't get into a five-on-five defensive game and that's what we like to do.”

Kevin Mays (Jr., Queens, N.Y., Odessa CC) added 15 points and seven rebounds, Maynor added 15 including 5-of-8 from three-point range. Jaylin Airington (R-So., East Chicago, Ind., Ventura CC) scored 11 for his second-consecutive game in double figures.

The loss sends the 'Runners into fourth place in the WAC standings at 4-4, although amongst tournament-eligible teams the 'Runners are in third place. Bakersfield plays at Texas-Pan American Thursday night at 7 P.M. (CT) and at New Mexico State Saturday night at 7 P.M. (MT).

Thursday's game can be heard on 1230 ESPN beginning at 4:30 P.M. with the Dignity Health Pregame Show.

CSUB returns to home action Thursday, Feb. 19 against Chicago State at the Icardo Center.