Completed Event: Men's Basketball at UNLV on February 7, 2026 , Loss , 78, to, 80
M Basketball
at UNLV
L 78-80
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Friday, December 18
San Diego, Calif.
8 p.m.
Grand Canyon
9-2
52
at
45
San Diego State
7-5
1st half1
2nd half2
FinalF
Grand Canyon
22
30
52
SAN DIEGO STATE
22
23
45
Photo by: Darryl Webb
Lopes stun Aztecs 52-45
12/19/2015 1:42:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Grand Canyon men's basketball team went on the road for the second time this season and came away with a stunning 52-45 upset victory over San Diego State University at Viejas Arena on Friday night.
"It is unbelievable, a great win," head coach Dan Majerle said after the game. "This is obviously a very tough place to win. That was a very good team that we played that has a real home court advantage. We just battled, and battled, and battled and got some plays down at the end. That was by far the best win we've had since I got here."
The Aztecs had owned a .897 winning percentage at home over the last decade, the sixth-best mark in the country. In their last 106 home games, San Diego State had posted a 98-8 record at home, good for a .925 winning percentage. The Lopes were happy to hand them a ninth loss in their last 107 games.
Keonta Vernon, making his second consecutive start, recorded his second consecutive double-double scoring 16 points and pulling down 11 boards.
"We just stayed focused on getting stops on defense because we knew if we got stops on defense, the offense was going to come," Vernon added. ".We have a great offense. It's hard for them to stop our offense. Stops led to good offense."
Defense was the name of this game, as the Lopes held the Aztecs to only 31.5 percent shooting from the field for the game, including 15.8 percent from beyond the arc.
"They're top-five in the country in field goal percentage defensively," Majerle said. "I knew it was going to be hard to score on them, no matter what."
As Vernon mentioned, the Lopes focused on getting stops, knowing it would lead to more offense. After heading to the locker room locked in a 22-22 tie, the Lopes held the Aztecs to just 25.8 percent shooting in the second half, while they improved to shoot 40.7 percent from the field in the second half.
Rebounding and defense continues to be key to success for the Lopes as they improved to 9-1 on the season when they win the rebounding battle. They edged a long and athletic San Diego State team 42-41 on the boards.
With the Lopes up two with 1:20 remaining in the game, DeWayne Russell missed a pullup jumper, but managed to tip the offensive rebound right to Vernon who was fouled going to the basket. He hit 1-of-2 free throws and the Lopes took a three-point lead. After a San Diego missed 3-pointer, Russell grabbed another rebound before being fouled and knocking down both free throw attempts. Vernon put the exclamation point on the victory slamming home a dunk as time expired.
Russell finished with 13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals in 34 minutes of action.
The Lopes won't get to enjoy the win very long as they move on to Las Vegas, Nev. where they will continue play in the Global Sports Classic. They will meet up with the University of Houston on Monday night, a team that has only lost one game so far this season.
"They're a very good team." Majerle said of the 7-1 Cougars. "It would be nice for this team to go on and continue and see what we can do against that Houston team. Like I said, they got a taste of this, so hopefully they'll love it and keep winning on the road."
Tip-off from Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas on Monday night is scheduled for 6 p.m. MT.
"It is unbelievable, a great win," head coach Dan Majerle said after the game. "This is obviously a very tough place to win. That was a very good team that we played that has a real home court advantage. We just battled, and battled, and battled and got some plays down at the end. That was by far the best win we've had since I got here."
The Aztecs had owned a .897 winning percentage at home over the last decade, the sixth-best mark in the country. In their last 106 home games, San Diego State had posted a 98-8 record at home, good for a .925 winning percentage. The Lopes were happy to hand them a ninth loss in their last 107 games.
Keonta Vernon, making his second consecutive start, recorded his second consecutive double-double scoring 16 points and pulling down 11 boards.
"We just stayed focused on getting stops on defense because we knew if we got stops on defense, the offense was going to come," Vernon added. ".We have a great offense. It's hard for them to stop our offense. Stops led to good offense."
Defense was the name of this game, as the Lopes held the Aztecs to only 31.5 percent shooting from the field for the game, including 15.8 percent from beyond the arc.
"They're top-five in the country in field goal percentage defensively," Majerle said. "I knew it was going to be hard to score on them, no matter what."
As Vernon mentioned, the Lopes focused on getting stops, knowing it would lead to more offense. After heading to the locker room locked in a 22-22 tie, the Lopes held the Aztecs to just 25.8 percent shooting in the second half, while they improved to shoot 40.7 percent from the field in the second half.
Rebounding and defense continues to be key to success for the Lopes as they improved to 9-1 on the season when they win the rebounding battle. They edged a long and athletic San Diego State team 42-41 on the boards.
With the Lopes up two with 1:20 remaining in the game, DeWayne Russell missed a pullup jumper, but managed to tip the offensive rebound right to Vernon who was fouled going to the basket. He hit 1-of-2 free throws and the Lopes took a three-point lead. After a San Diego missed 3-pointer, Russell grabbed another rebound before being fouled and knocking down both free throw attempts. Vernon put the exclamation point on the victory slamming home a dunk as time expired.
Russell finished with 13 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals in 34 minutes of action.
The Lopes won't get to enjoy the win very long as they move on to Las Vegas, Nev. where they will continue play in the Global Sports Classic. They will meet up with the University of Houston on Monday night, a team that has only lost one game so far this season.
"They're a very good team." Majerle said of the 7-1 Cougars. "It would be nice for this team to go on and continue and see what we can do against that Houston team. Like I said, they got a taste of this, so hopefully they'll love it and keep winning on the road."
Tip-off from Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas on Monday night is scheduled for 6 p.m. MT.
Team Stats
GCU
SDSU
FG%
.339
.315
3FG%
.400
.158
FT%
.625
.471
RB
42
41
TO
12
12
STL
6
5
Game Leaders
Pts
16
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
6
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
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