Notes: GCU vs. Longwood

	vs.
Grand Canyon Lopes (8-3, 0-0 WAC)	Thu., Dec. 21 6 p.m. MST	Longwood Lancers (3-9, 0-0 Big South)
Grand Canyon Game Notes	Watch Live Listen Live Live Stats	Longwood Game Notes

The Grand Canyon men's basketball team looks to improve to 9-1 at home on the season as they host Longwood University on Thursday, Dec. 21 at GCU Arena. Tip off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. MST and will be broadcasted live in the Phoenix area on YurView (Ch. 4 Phoenix / Ch. 7 Tucson) and streamed online at GCU.tv. Out of market broadcast will also be available on ESPN3 (Subject to blackout within Arizona). Barry Buetel will be providing play-by-play with analyst Scott Williams and Kate Longworth on the sideline.

GCU fans can listen live as Michael Potter and Tom Kuyper will be airing on 1580 AM The Fanatic as well as online via The Fanatic website or mobile app. The pregame show will start 15 minutes before tip and conclude with a postgame show featuring comments from head coach Dan Majerle.

QUICK NOTES:

Thursday will be the first time the Lopes have ever faced an opponent from the Big South conference.
GCU held Mississippi Valley State to only 38 points on Monday night, the second lowest total in GCU Division I history. The lowest scoring total was 37 points vs. Coppin State on Nov. 25, 2016.
Since the 2014-15 season, the Lopes are 20-0 when returning to GCU Arena following a road or neutral site game.
GCU ranks 6th in the country in scoring defense (59.5 points per game). In the last three seasons, GCU is 27-2 when allowing 61 points or less.
The Lopes rank 6th in 3-point defense, holding opponents to just 26.8 percent from beyond the arc. They have also given up the fewest 3-pointers of any team in the country, with just 42 allowed.
Additionally, GCU ranks 5th in the country in effective opponent field goal percentage at 42.4 percent. Effective field goal percentage factors in weighted figures for 3-point field goals.
Keonta Vernon recorded the Lopes' first double-double of the season with 15 points and 12 rebounds at Boise State. It was the 12th double-double of Vernon's career at GCU, most on the team.
Matt Jackson scored in double figures for the second time this season with 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting vs. Mississippi Valley State,
The Lopes rank 19th in the country in turnovers forced averaging17.6 turnovers from opponents each game.
Dating back to last season, the Lopes have won 22 of their last 24 home games at GCU Arena.
Casey Benson is posting career-high averages for points (10.7), assists (5.2), rebounds (4.6), and steals (1.1) on the season.
GCU leads the WAC in scoring defense (59.5), scoring margin( 12.8), field goal percentage defense (.388), three-point field goal percentage defense (.268), turnover margin ( 3.50), assists (16.4) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.15).
Longwood wraps up its non-conference schedule at GCU, following a 95-61 loss to No. 3 Arizona State on Tuesday night.

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Players Mentioned

Casey Benson

Matt Jackson

Keonta Vernon

Grand Canyon University Athletics