• Boxscore & Play-by-Play

PHOENIX – Marco Ramos' put-back layup with three seconds remaining capped a late rally for the Grand Canyon men, who overcame a six-point deficit during the final minute to claim a 69-68 non-conference basketball win over sixth-ranked Seattle Pacific at Antelope Gymnasium.

The Falcons (9-2) lost for the second straight time after opening the season with nine consecutive victories. One of those wins was a 70-57 decision against Grand Canyon on Dec. 19 in Seattle. SPU's first loss was a 73-69 home defeat on Dec. 30 against Colorado Christian.

The Antelopes (6-10) won back-to-back games for the first time this season.

SPU went ahead 67-61 on a pair of free throws from Adam Wardell with 56 seconds left to play.

The Antelopes answered with two free throws by Ramos and got the ball back after SPU's Jeff Downs was trapped in the corner and turned the ball over. Brad Carroll put back a missed shot at 0:24 to draw GCU within 67-65.

Wardell hit the second of two free throws with 30 seconds remaining for a 68-65 SPU margin before Carroll drew the Antelopes within one point on a jumper at 0:23.

Colby Vranes missed two potential clinching free throws for the Falcons with 19 seconds remaining. GCU rebounded the second miss and ran the clock down before Alyx Foster attempted a short jumper. His shot missed, but Ramos rebounded and banked in a layup while being fouled with 3.1 seconds to play.

Ramos missed the subsequent free throw, SPU rebounded and called a timeout. The inbounds pass from under the far basket went to Brandon Larrieu, who dribbled past midcourt before launching a shot that caromed off the rim at the buzzer.

Larrieu scored 24 points to lead the Falcons, who also got 16 from Chris Banchero. Junior Ryan Sweet, making his first SPU start, contributed seven points and 11 rebounds.

Nick Witherill came off the bench to pace GCU with 15 points while Ramos finished with 14. Steven Morin added 13 points and Carroll had 12.

Neither team led by more than three points during the first half that finished with Larrieu grabbing an offensive rebound and quickly sinking a 12-foot jumper at the buzzer for a 30-28 SPU edge.

The Antelopes won despite hitting just 8 of 21 free throw attempts. SPU countered with 23-of-35 shooting from the line.

The Falcons begin Great Northwest Athletic Conference play on Thursday, Jan. 7 at Northwest Nazarene. The next home game for SPU is Saturday, Jan. 9 against Saint Martin's. Tip-off is 7 p.m. at Brougham Pavilion.


NCAA Men's Basketball
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Antelope Gymnasium/Phoenix, Ariz.

Grand Canyon 69, (#6) Seattle Pacific 68

SEATTLE PACIFIC (9-2)
Sweet 2-5 3-4 7, Moreira 1-3 0-2 2, Banchero 5-9 5-7 16, Larrieu 7-11, 8-10 24, Diederichs 2-2 1-2 6, Wardell 1-2 5-6 8, Vranes 0-1 0-2 0, Downs 1-4 1-2 3, Morse 0-0 0-0 0, Anderson 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 20-40 23-35 68.

GRAND CANYON (6-10)
Ngoundjo 4-5 0-0 8, 15 Tchatchoua 0-0 3-6 3, Carroll 6-12 0-1 12, Benson 0-4 2-6 2, Morin 5-10 0-2 13, Duliakas 0-0 0-0 0, Wesolowski 1-2 0-0 2, Foster 0-1 0-1 0, Ramos 6-10 2-3 14, Witherill 6-10 1-2 15. Totals 28-54 8-21 69.

Seattle Pacific ................. 30  38 - 68
Grand Canyon ................. 28  41 - 69

3-point goals—SPU 5-13 (Larrieu 2-3, Wardell 1-2, Banchero 1-3, Diederichs 1-1, Sweet 0-1, Anderson 0-1, Downs 0-2), GCU 5-15 (Morin 3-6, Witherill 2-5, Carroll 0-1, Ramos 0-1, Benson 0-2). Fouled out—SPU Banchero, Moreira (ejected), GCU—Carroll, Benson, Wesolowski, Ngoundjo (ejected). Rebounds—SPU 33 (Sweet 11), GCU 26 (Ngoundjo 9). Assists—SPU 7 (Diederichs 4), GCU 12 (Ramos 3). Total fouls—SPU 22, GCU 28. Technical fouls—none. Att.—588.