Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball at Baylor on October 10, 2025 at 2 p.m. (MST)
M Basketball
2 p.m. (MST)
at Baylor
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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Monday, November 13
Phoenix, Ariz.
7 p.m.
Grand Canyon
2-0
75
vs
61
Robert Morris
0-2
1
2
F
Robert Morris
28
33
61
Grand Canyon
48
27
75
Photo by: Travis Neely
Braun sets 3-point record in win
11/13/2017 10:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
GCU defense holds down Robert Morris
Joshua Braun popped out to the 3-point line and pivoted on his left foot to square up perfectly on the 3-point arc's left side.
The defender was still there but Braun's lift from the floor gave him clearance to shoot. Braun rose over the defense and every player in GCU history on Monday night, setting the Lopes all-time record for 3-pointers made in the career.
Braun has made 199 career 3s with many more to come by the looks of how the senior guard's 20-point game and first-half explosion keyed GCU's 75-61 victory against Robert Morris.
Braun scored half of the Lopes' points during a 26-5 first-half run that pulled them away from the Colonials in front of 6,833 fans at GCU Arena. Braun made his first three 3-pointers during that stretch, including a record-tying 3 set up by Gerard Martin's assist and a record-breaking 3 off Casey Benson's feed.
"I thank God I've had an opportunity to even play this game here and have fun," Braun said. "I'm thankful for Coach (Dan) Majerle giving me the opportunity and all those guys that allowed me to play here and have some fun. I've enjoyed every minute of it."
Braun and Benson showed how strong of a backcourt they can be with 27 first-half points. Robert Morris shot 36 percent from the field with 14 turnovers in the first half, helping GCU to a 48-28 lead at the break.
"Great first half," Majerle said. "Unbelievable first half. Forty-eight points. Defensively, we were great, flying around. Everybody played well.
"That first half was about as good as I've seen from our guys."
The Lopes were not done, extending the lead to 63-38 when sophomore swingman Oscar Frayer made two 3-pointers and another jumper on the 3-point line within two minutes. Robert Morris called time out and the Lopes limped to the finish, making one field goal over a span of more than 12 minutes.
The Colonials trimmed the lead to 13 but never made a serious threat with GCU getting to the free throw line and sustaining its defense. The Lopes (2-0) have held each of its first two opponents to less than 40 percent shooting (Florida A&M, 38.8; Robert Morris, 33.9) to extend Division I's longest active winning streak to nine games.
"Second half, we were just too casual," Majerle said. "Way too many turnovers. Stopped making free throws. Got to be stronger with the ball. I know I'm nitpicking but we want to be good if we want to win the WAC. If we want to do all that stuff, we've got to get a lot better."
After making 17 turnovers in the opener, GCU committed 21 turnovers on Monday night. It is indicative of a team adjusting to a new point guard in Benson (career-high 17 points, six rebounds, five assists) and a deeper rotation that mixes more lineups.
The defense is one of the best early-season signs. On Monday, that included Martin and Keonta Vernon taking charges and the team getting two blocked shots apiece from Braun, Frayer and Vernon. Frayer and Martin each had two steals with Frayer getting a highlight swipe when he corralled a steal along the sideline and instantly saved the ball upcourt to Benson for a layup.
Frayer filled box score categories with 13 points, nine rebounds and three assists too.
The Lopes used their depth for varying lineups and intermittent switching that helped keep Robert Morris' Koby Thomas and Matty McConnell, who each scored 22 against Ohio State on Friday, to 17 points combined on Monday.
"Our defense is going to be what leads us this year," Majerle said. "Offensively, we'll get there."
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
The defender was still there but Braun's lift from the floor gave him clearance to shoot. Braun rose over the defense and every player in GCU history on Monday night, setting the Lopes all-time record for 3-pointers made in the career.
Braun has made 199 career 3s with many more to come by the looks of how the senior guard's 20-point game and first-half explosion keyed GCU's 75-61 victory against Robert Morris.
Braun scored half of the Lopes' points during a 26-5 first-half run that pulled them away from the Colonials in front of 6,833 fans at GCU Arena. Braun made his first three 3-pointers during that stretch, including a record-tying 3 set up by Gerard Martin's assist and a record-breaking 3 off Casey Benson's feed.
"I thank God I've had an opportunity to even play this game here and have fun," Braun said. "I'm thankful for Coach (Dan) Majerle giving me the opportunity and all those guys that allowed me to play here and have some fun. I've enjoyed every minute of it."
Braun and Benson showed how strong of a backcourt they can be with 27 first-half points. Robert Morris shot 36 percent from the field with 14 turnovers in the first half, helping GCU to a 48-28 lead at the break.
"Great first half," Majerle said. "Unbelievable first half. Forty-eight points. Defensively, we were great, flying around. Everybody played well.
"That first half was about as good as I've seen from our guys."
The Lopes were not done, extending the lead to 63-38 when sophomore swingman Oscar Frayer made two 3-pointers and another jumper on the 3-point line within two minutes. Robert Morris called time out and the Lopes limped to the finish, making one field goal over a span of more than 12 minutes.
The Colonials trimmed the lead to 13 but never made a serious threat with GCU getting to the free throw line and sustaining its defense. The Lopes (2-0) have held each of its first two opponents to less than 40 percent shooting (Florida A&M, 38.8; Robert Morris, 33.9) to extend Division I's longest active winning streak to nine games.
"Second half, we were just too casual," Majerle said. "Way too many turnovers. Stopped making free throws. Got to be stronger with the ball. I know I'm nitpicking but we want to be good if we want to win the WAC. If we want to do all that stuff, we've got to get a lot better."
After making 17 turnovers in the opener, GCU committed 21 turnovers on Monday night. It is indicative of a team adjusting to a new point guard in Benson (career-high 17 points, six rebounds, five assists) and a deeper rotation that mixes more lineups.
The defense is one of the best early-season signs. On Monday, that included Martin and Keonta Vernon taking charges and the team getting two blocked shots apiece from Braun, Frayer and Vernon. Frayer and Martin each had two steals with Frayer getting a highlight swipe when he corralled a steal along the sideline and instantly saved the ball upcourt to Benson for a layup.
Frayer filled box score categories with 13 points, nine rebounds and three assists too.
The Lopes used their depth for varying lineups and intermittent switching that helped keep Robert Morris' Koby Thomas and Matty McConnell, who each scored 22 against Ohio State on Friday, to 17 points combined on Monday.
"Our defense is going to be what leads us this year," Majerle said. "Offensively, we'll get there."
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
Team Stats
RMU
GCU
FG%
.339
.488
3FG%
.200
.438
FT%
.682
.722
RB
39
37
TO
19
21
STL
13
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
17
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
8
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
7
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballF
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