Men's Hoops Wins WAC Opener Over Texas-Pan American

Thursday, January 2

GCU Arena

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

6-8, 1-0

Texas-Pan American

4-11, 0-1

Texas-Pan American

Grand Canyon

Jerome Garrison scored a career-high 24 points in GCU's first-ever WAC victory

Photo by: Darryl Webb

1/2/2014 9:17:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Garrison drains crucial three-pointer to cement win

Hot-shooting from behind the arc sparked the Grand Canyon University men's basketball team (6-8, 1-0) to a 91-85 win over visiting Texas-Pan American (4-11, 0-1) in the first-ever Western Athletic Conference game for both teams. The victory snapped a five-game losing streak for GCU.

Click here for Michael Potter's postgame interview with head coach Dan Majerle.
Click here for Michael Potter's postgame interview with Jerome Garrison.

The Antelopes drained a season-high 14 three-pointers in the game, the most for the squad since going 15-for-30 versus Haskell Indians Nation on Dec. 15, 2007. The 91 points tied for the most this season, the third time the squad has reached that mark.

For the game, GCU shot 52.1 percent (25-for-48) and outrebounded the Broncs 36-27. UTPA went 34-for-70 from the field (48.6 percent) but found success with 48 points in the paint and 23 points off 17 GCU turnovers.

Jerome Garrison had a career-night, scoring 24 points on 6-for-10 shooting from the field. Killian Larson continued to add to his double-double total for the season (11), collecting a game-high 26 points and 12 points. Daniel Alexander matched his career-best with 18 points, including five three-pointers. Also scoring in double figures for GCU were Blake Davis (11) and Akachi Okugo (10).

The 'Lopes got off to a quick start, making four of their first six shots, three of which were three-pointers to stake an early 11-8 lead. The Broncs had an answer for GCU's hot start to the game as the squads exchanged the lead for much of the first 10 minutes. However, an 11-4 'Lopes run beginning with just over nine minutes on the clock handed GCU a 29-21 advantage at the 7:37 mark.

GCU extended that lead to as many as 10 points before UTPA used a 10-0 run of their own to knot the score at 33 with 2:21 remaining in the half. The 'Lopes narrowly outscored the Broncs, 4-3, until the halftime buzzer rang to carry the 37-36 lead into the locker room.

GCU shot 47.8 percent from the field (11-for-23) in the first 20 minutes, led by Garrison's 16 points. Larson added eight points and six rebounds. The 'Lopes drained an impressive six three-pointers, three of which came off the hand of Garrison. UTPA went 16-for-42 from the field (38.1 percent) and were aided by 15 points off 12 'Lopes turnovers. The Broncs also held the significant advantage in points in the paint, 28-8, in the first half.

A 17-7 run to open the second half spurred GCU to a 55-43 lead with over 16 minutes remaining as the 'Lopes quickly matched their season-high for three-pointers made with 10. The Broncs pulled within six points, 67-61, via an 8-0 run at the under eight-minute mark of the contest after finding themselves down by as many as 15.

After the 'Lopes built their lead back to 13 points, UTPA used another furious rally to make it a four-point game, 84-80, with 1:04 to play. Following a GCU turnover with 56 seconds on the clock, UTPA's Javorn Farrell converted a three-point play to narrow that gap to just one point five seconds later.

Garrison then proceeded to drain his career-high fourth three-pointer and forced the Broncs to foul for the remainder of the game to cement the win.

GCU will now welcome preseason WAC-favorite New Mexico State to GCU Arena for a 7 p.m. contest on Saturday. The game will be broadcast live on Cox7 (and www.cox7.com) and KPXQ 1360 AM (and www.faithtalk1360.com).

GCU 91, UTPA 85