The Grand Canyon University men's basketball team opens the 2013-14 season with two games this weekend in San Diego, Calif. The Antelopes will face a pair of West Coast Conference opponents, beginning with Loyola Marymount tonight and San Diego tomorrow. Tipoff tonight at the Jenny Craig Pavilion will be 5:30 p.m. (Arizona time); tomorrow's game against the Toreros is slated for a 7 p.m. (AZ time) start. These games will officially mark the coaching debut of head coach Dan Majerle, who came to GCU after spending the previous five years as an assistant coach with the Phoenix Suns. Both games will once again be broadcast on Grand Canyon's new television home, Cox7. Matt Rosen and former NBA star Rex Chapman will call the action. For those not in Phoenix, visit www.cox7.com to view the broadcast. Also, fans can listen to the call of the games via radio. GCU Alum Michael Potter is in his fifth season handling the play-by-play duties and is joined this weekend by GCU Assistant Athletic Director and former South Mountain head coach, Dan Nichols, who will be in the analyst chair. The game tonight will be broadcast on KKNT 960 AM and streamed online at www.960thepatriot.com. Tomorrow's game will be carried on KPXQ 1360 AM or www.faithtalk1360.com.
GAME NOTES
VS. LOYOLA MARYMOUNT: The Lions were selected to finish sixth in the West Coast Conference after posting an 11-23 overall record and 1-15 mark in the conference last season. LMU advanced to the semifinals of the WCC Tournament before falling to No. 1 seed Gonzaga. The Lions return Anthony Ireland, who was a First Team All-WCC selection and a Lou Henson Preseason Mid-Major All-American honoree last season after averaging 20.2 points per game.
VS. SAN DIEGO: The Toreros were picked to finish fifth in the West Coast Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll and will be led by All-WCC Preseason Team selection Johnny Dee. Dee averaged 15.0 points and 31.2 minutes per game in 2012-13 for the Toreros. USD went 16-18 overall and 7-9 in WCC play last season, when they advanced to the conference semifinals before losing to Saint Mary's in overtime. GCU has met USD 18 times, but not since the Toreros made the move to Division I in 1979-80, and holds a 10-8 advantage in the all-time series.
LAST TIME OUT: GCU opened their 2013-14 slate with a 71-63 exhibition loss to UC San Diego on Nov. 1 at GCU Arena. Jerome Garrison scored a team-best 17 points, while Blake Davis pulled down a game-high nine rebounds. GCU also had double-digit scoring efforts from Davis (10), Akachi Okugo (12), and Killian Larson (13).
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