Lopes defeat Alcorn State behind free throw advantage

Tuesday, December 20

Phoenix, Ariz.

7:00 P.M.

Grand Canyon

7-5

Alcorn State

2-8

Alcorn St.

Grand Canyon

12/20/2016 8:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Josh Hauser

PHOENIX -- With a 27-point effort from leading scorer DeWayne Russell and a double-double from Keonta Vernon, Grand Canyon defeated Alcorn State 63-53 at GCU Arena on Tuesday night. The Lopes extended their home winning streak to four games, improving to 5-2 at home and 7-5 overall.

"We are struggling," said head coach Dan Majerle. "Some guys are going to have to step up and play better. We just have to find a way to grind out wins, which we did tonight."

Russell's 27 points was his third-highest output of the season, behind only a 42-point effort vs. Louisville and a 30-point day in his first game of the year at Albany. Vernon's double-double was his third of the season.

"A win is a win," Majerle said. "Guys are just going to have to play better, there's nothing else to it."

Despite a 5-0 start from the Braves, the Lopes quickly claimed a lead after an 8-0 run in the early stages of the game. Keyed by a Russell and-one, a Russell steal and score, and a Fiifi Aidoo 3-point shot, the Lopes led 8-5 at the first media timeout.

Grand Canyon was able to convert on points off of turnovers and fast break points early in the contest. Gerard Martin delivered a laser to a streaking Oscar Frayer for a fast break slam to grant GCU the 14-10 lead. Martin later poked the ball away and scored on a run-out to extend the Lopes' lead to 17-12.

Alcorn State's bench kept the Braves in the game in the first half, scoring 17 of the Braves' 29 first-half points. Despite the back-and-forth nature of the first 20 minutes, Grand Canyon was usually the one in front, leading for 15:45 of the first half.

The Lopes capitalized on a sizeable advantage from the free throw line, shooting 11-for-14 from the charity stripe while limiting Alcorn State to just four attempts of which the Braves converted only two. At the break, Russell led all scorers with 11 points including a perfect 5-for-5 from the line. GCU was limited to 36 percent shooting from the field.

Out of the halftime locker room, Aidoo started the second half on fire with a steal and score followed by a 3-point bucket. Aidoo ended the night with 14 points, one point shy of tying a career high.

A cold front hit GCU Arena in the middle of the second half, with both teams going ice cold. Grand Canyon went over 5:00 without a point before Russell hit a three. On the other side, Alcorn State went 4:30 without a field goal.

The Lopes slowly built their lead as Russell continued to knock down foul shots. The GCU guard finished a perfect 13-for-13 from the line, the most free throws attempted without a miss in the Division I era for Grand Canyon. Joshua Braun went 12-for-12 from the free throw line in a Feb. 18, 2016 win at home vs. UMKC.

Grand Canyon was looking to put the game out of reach, and Vernon came up with an answer. With the shot clock expiring, he connected on a long jumper. Moments later, he tipped away a pass and completed the play with a breakaway dunk. Vernon's consecutive baskets put the Lopes in front by 14 with 4:13 to play.

The Lopes have one day off from action before returning to the floor against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Thursday night at GCU Arena. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. MST and will be aired on CW6 and KFYI 2 1230 AM.