GCU Defeats New Mexico For Signature Win

Tuesday, December 23

GCU Arena

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

7-7

New Mexico

8-4

New Mexico

Grand Canyon

Joshua Braun scored 18 points to lead GCU past New Mexico

Photo by: Darryl Webb

12/23/2014 8:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Lopes defeat 2014 NCAA Tournament Lobos 68-65 at GCU Arena

The Grand Canyon University men's basketball team (7-7) picked up a signature win tonight with their 68-65 victory over New Mexico (8-4) at GCU Arena to snap a five-game win streak for the Lobos. UNM went 27-7 last season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament after winning the Mountain West Tournament Championship.

GCU also avenged an 80-68 loss to UNM in Albuquerque from a season ago.

Click here for Michael Potter's postgame interview with head coach Dan Majerle.
Click here for Michael Potter's postgame interview with Daniel Alexander.
Click here for Michael Potter's postgame interview with Joshua Braun.

Click here for The Arizona Republic story from the game.
Click here for the Associated Press story from the game.
Click here for photos from the game.

The Lopes led for half of the game, including the last 10 minutes and 15 seconds after moving ahead 45-44 following a Daniel Alexander free throw. UNM made it interesting in the end, trailing by three with five seconds to play, but GCU forced a turnover to secure the win.

Joshua Braun once again led the Lopes offensively with 18 points, his fourth straight game in double figures. Alexander scored a season-best 17 points and also pulled down seven rebounds for GCU. DeWayne Russell added 10 points.

GCU shot 38.5 percent from the field (20-for-52) and made a season-high-tying nine three-pointers. The Lobos went 23-for-56 from the floor (41.4 percent). The Lopes forced 11 UNM turnovers while committing just seven of their own.

The Lopes opened a seven-point lead, 15-8, with 11 and a half minutes on the clock after holding the Lobos scoreless for nearly four minutes. Following a 12-2 run, UNM went ahead 20-17 with 6:23 on the clock.

The remainder of the half went back-and forth, ending with the two teams in a deadlock at 30 heading into the break. GCU shot 34.4 percent from the floor (11-for-32), just below the 8-for-21 mark (38.1 percent) by the Lobos. The Lopes were led by Braun with 10 points at the half, while Alexander added eight points off the bench.

GCU forced nine first half turnovers, which resulted in 12 points for the Lopes.

The second half resembled the first with neither team able to build a lead over five points until GCU went on an 8-2 run to stake a 56-48 lead with 5:01 to play. UNM pulled to within four points, 59-55, just over two minutes later and would come as close as two points before a Lobos turnover sealed the victory for GCU as time was winding down.

GCU will return to GCU Arena for a 7 p.m. meeting against fellow Division I transitioning school Abilene Christian on Dec. 28. Fans unable to attend can listen live on KXXT 1010 AM Family Values Radio or watch live on Cox7.

GCU 68, UNM 65