Grand Canyon (1-1) continues a stretch in which they will be playing four games over nine days, tonight facing UT Arlington (1-1) at GCU Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Lopes won their home opener on Monday, 61-45 over Montana State, in front of over 6,500 fans. The Antelopes will need to rest quickly as they will be back in action on Friday, Nov. 21, when they will face Florida A&M. Tipoff for Friday at GCU Arena is set for 7 p.m. Both games will be carried live on Cox7 and on radio at KXXT 1010 AM. Go to www.gculopes.com for online links to the broadcasts. GAME NOTESVS. UT ARLINGTONThis marks the first meeting between GCU and UT Arlington. The Mavericks went 15-17 overall last season and are 1-1 so far in the 2014-15 campaign. UTA was picked to finish fourth in the Sun Belt Conference preseason poll after going 10-10 in league play in 2013-14.
LAST TIME OUTGCU won their home opener, 61-45, over Montana State on Nov. 17. The Lopes held the Bobcats to just a 34.9 field goal percentage (15-for-43) and forced 22 Montana State turnovers. GCU shot 44.4 percent from the field (20-for-45), led by Ryan Majerle's team-best 13 points. Royce Woolridge went 9-for-11 from the free throw line en route to collecting 11 points, while Daniel Alexander added 10. As a team, the Lopes went 16-for-21 from the charity stripe.
FORCING THE ISSUEThe Antelopes forced Montana State into 22 turnovers on Monday night, the most in the Majerle era. The Lopes previous high under Majerle was 16 done on Nov. 29, 2013 vs. San Diego Christian. The Lopes forced 23 turnovers on Jan. 19, 2013 in their final season in D-II. In the season opener at top-ranked Kentucky, the Wildcats made 13 turnovers. Last season, the Antelopes forced double-digit turnover numbers in 18 of their 30 games.
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