Vernon's career-night leads Lopes over Vaqueros

Saturday, January 14

Edinburg, Texas

6:00 P.M.

Grand Canyon

11-7, 2-1WAC

UT Rio Grande Valley

9-12, 1-3WAC

Grand Canyon

UT Rio Grande Valley

1/14/2017 11:21:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Charles Hampton

The Grand Canyon men's basketball won on the road for the first time this season, defeating UTRGV 79-66 on Saturday night at UTRGV Fieldhouse in Edinburg, Texas. The Lopes improve to 11-7 on the season and 2-1 in WAC play, while the Vaqueros drop to 9-12 and 1-3 in the conference.

Keonta Vernon scored a career-best 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field and added 9 rebounds and 2 steals. DeWayne Russell added 18 points and 7 assists, the 21^st consecutive game he has scored in double-figures. Joshua Braun was only 2-of-6 from the field but was perfect from the free throw line in 11 attempts. Gerard Martin scored a season-best 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting, including 3-of-7 from behind the arc.

The Vaqueros hit their first two 3-point goal attempts to start the game and opened up a quick 6-2 lead. GCU took control of the game by running off 14 straight points, while holding UTRGV scoreless for six minutes and opening up a 16-6 lead. In that span, the Lopes went 6-of-9 from the field, including 8 consecutive points from Vernon.

Another 10-0 run from GCU opened cup a 14-point lead following a Vernon dunk on a half-court lob from Russell with seven minutes remaining in the first half. From that point, the Vaqueros went on an 18-5 run, including an 8-0 run over the final three minutes, to cut the lead to just one point at the intermission 33-32.

After being outrebounded 40-26 on Thursday night at New Mexico State, the Lopes had almost as many rebounds in the first half against the Vaqueros, with a 25-10 edge in the first 20 minutes, which included 9 offensive rebounds which contributed to a 10-0 advantage on second chance points. GCU controlled the pant with a 20-4 scoring advantage down low.

UTRGV regained the lead for the first time since the opening minutes of the game on an Antonio Green 3-pointer four minutes into the second half, giving the Vaqueros a 40-39 lead. Trailing by two with just under 11 minutes left in game, Martin sparked another GCU 10-0 run with 6 quick points with a traditional 3-pointer and a 3-point play on a drive to the basket, giving GCU a 57-49 lead.

A 5-point run from Green pulled the Vaqueros within two points, 63-61, before Joshua Braun and Martin put the game away with a 15-2 run. Braun scored 8 points in the four minute stretch and Martin hit two more 3-pointers as the Lopes opened up their largest lead of the game, a 15-point advantage with two minutes to play in the contest.

For the game, GCU held UTRGV to just 31.3 percent shooting, including just 27.8 percent in the second half. Their 46 rebounds were one shy of their season-best, achieved against Coppin State back in November. The Lopes also were much improved from the foul line, shooting 75.6 percent as a team. Braun, Martin and Shaq Carr combined to go a perfect 18-for-18 at the free throw line.

GCU will have a quick turnaround as they return home on Tuesday, Jan. 17, as they host NAIA-opponent San Diego Christian College at GCU Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. MST.