Men's basketball looks to remain perfect

Monday, November 23

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Mississippi Valley State

Tickets

Photo by: Darryl Webb

11/23/2015 12:35:00 AM | Men's Basketball

By: Charles Hampton

The Grand Canyon men's basketball team looks to match it's longest winning streak under head coach Dan Majerle as they look to improve to 4-0 as they host the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils on Monday, Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. at Grand Canyon University Arena. The last time the Lopes started the season 4-0 was the 1996-97 season.

It will be the first meeting between the two schools. Mississippi Valley State enters Monday game still looking for their first win of the season, coming off a 85-46 loss to New Mexico State, the defending WAC champions, on Saturday night. Junior guard Rashaan Surles led the Delta Devils with 9 points, 7 rebounds, a block and one steal. Despite staying within a point through the first five minutes of the game, New Mexico State then went on a 30-4 run to break it open. Through three games, junior forward Damian Young has come off the bench to lead the team in scoring, averaging 10.0 points per game.

The Lopes pulled away from Alcorn State in the second half on Thursday night to win their third straight game, 79-46. Senior guard DeWayne Russell led the Lopes in scoring with 14 points while also recording 3 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists. Senior forward Grandy Glaze, who currently leads all WAC individuals with 8.67 defensive rebounds per game, added 8 points and 10 boards, falling one field goal short of his second consecutive double-double.

"Great game, a lot better," said Majerle after the game. "I thought our intensity--for the most part--for 40 minutes was pretty good. First half, we just kind of grinded it out and second half just really got it going. I was a little disappointed with rebounding in the first half but in the second half we outrebounded them and did a better job defensively."

After Majerle challenged his team to rebound better and play better defensively, the Lopes responded by holding the Braves to just 30.0 percent from the field and 16.7 percent from 3-point range for the game. They wound up outrebounding Alcorn State 44-32, including a 29-14 rebounding edge in the second half.

"I was upset at the rebounding," Majerle said. "For the first two years we weren't a very good rebounding team and I was sick of that and I said we've got guys who can really rebound on our team. There's no excuse to get outrebounded. They took that to heart. I think when we rebound, we can really get out and run and as you saw in the second half--we pushed it with our guards and our bigs who can really fly. "

Three games into the season, sophomore guard Joshua Braun leads the Lopes in scoring, averaging 18.3 points per game, good for third among WAC individuals. The depth of the Lopes is evident in that three different individuals have led the team in scoring in the first three games. Russell, Bruan, and sophomore De'Andre Davis have each stepped up to lead the Lopes to start the season.

Following Monday night's game, the Lopes will have a week to prepare for their next opponent as they welcome Hampton University to GCU Arena on Monday. Nov. 30. Hampton is the first of four GCU opponents this season that made the NCAA Tournament a year ago.