Braun's career night leads GCU to ninth straight win

Saturday, January 16

Phoenix, Ariz.

4 p.m.

Grand Canyon

16-2

Utah Valley

7-11

UVU

Grand Canyon

1/16/2016 6:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Josh Hauser

PHOENIX – The Grand Canyon men's basketball team defeated the Utah Valley Wolverines 99-88 on Saturday in front of 4,672 at GCU Arena. With the win, the Lopes improve to 16-2 overall and 3-0 in the Western Athletic Conference. GCU extends its winning streak to nine games and has now won four straight WAC games dating back to last season.

"We came out and really took it to them in the first half. We let them back in the game. Struggled a little bit defensively. Way too many fouls," head coach Dan Majerle said. "Overall, I'm very happy. It's hard to keep winning and doing the things we're doing and every conference game is hard. Our guys are stepping it up and getting it done. 3-0 at home [in conference], 16-2. I'm happy. It's not easy."

The Lopes never trailed against the Wolverines as they move to an 12-1 record this season at home.

Reigning WAC Player of the Week Joshua Braun hit a three on the GCU's first possession of the game to get the Lopes out to an early lead. Grand Canyon went on a 12-0 run with 6:00 left in the half to extend its lead to 21 points, up 37-16. Braun continued to shine in the first half as he led all scorers with 18 points at the break. However, Utah Valley clawed back to enter the locker room down 47-37.

"Josh is a beast, I'm here to tell you. He's a beast. He does whatever I ask. He posts up, he shots threes, he gets to the free throw line, rebounds, plays defense," Majerle said. "He's having a heck of a year. He's just got to keep it going. When he has games like that, you just throw him the ball and let him go."

Braun's stellar play continued into the second half. The sophomore ended the game with a career-high 34 points and pulled down five rebounds in the process. After setting a career-high with 14 free throws against New Mexico State a week ago, the conference leader in free throw percentage eclipsed his previous career-best by hitting 17-of-19 from the charity stripe against the Wolverines.

"We let them stick around longer than what we would have liked but we continued to fight the entire game," Braun said. "Tonight I was just trying to attack the hoop and get to the line as much as possible."

Grand Canyon recorded its highest point total in regulation since being a member of Division I, scoring 99 points, including 52 points in the second half.

Grandy Glaze contributed his fourth double-double of the season with 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field to go along with his 10 rebounds. Guard Dominic Magee scored in double-figures for the fifth time this season as he contributed 14 points for the Lopes.

Utah Valley continued to fight and make the game close but GCU's offense was too potent for the Wolverines' defense as GCU shot 54.4 percent from the field. Both teams attacked the paint as the teams combined for 73 free throws throughout the game. GCU was clutch from the free throw line, shooting 75 percent throughout the game.

Despite just 8 points, DeWayne Russell continued to have an impact on GCU's offense with a team-high 6 assists.

Grand Canyon's next game is against Chicago State onThursday, Jan. 21st at 6:00 p.m. The game will be played at the Jones Convocation Center in Chicago, Ill.