Completed Event: Men's Basketball at Baylor on October 10, 2025 , Loss , 74, to, 79
M Basketball
at Baylor
L 74-79
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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: Slaven Gujic
Rapid Recap: St. John's 68, GCU 60
12/5/2017 11:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
Grand Canyon grinded on defense but was grounded on offense, never getting the scoring run that could have chased down St. John's in a 68-60 loss Tuesday night at Talking Stick Resort Arena.
The Lopes took to an ESPNU national television stage in the Phoenix Suns' arena with NBA executives, alumni and scouts watching NBA greats Dan Majerle and Chris Mullin face off as head coaches. The Havocs filled the arena's south end with their brand of bedlam but GCU (5-2) could not fill the basket enough to send them back to campus happy.
The Lopes trailed for the last 36 minutes of the game, trailing by as many as 15 before making one last push that trimmed the Red Storm's lead to seven with 1:52 to go.
St. John's (8-1) did not make a field goal for more than four crunch-time minutes but eventually was able to close out the win.
Senior point guard Casey Benson led GCU with a career-high 18 points while senior power forward Keonta Vernon matched a career high with 15 rebounds. However, the Lopes shot only 30.3 percent from the field, 25.0 percent on 3-pointers and 54.5 percent on free throws while committing 21 turnovers.
Sophomore guard Shamorie Ponds led St. John's with a game-high 28 points to help a St. John's offense that shot 39.6 percent and made 18 turnovers with only four bench points.
Each team entered Tuesday night as a top-10 scoring defense in Division I and the game played out as such. The effect was worse on GCU, which went without making a field goal for nearly eight minutes of the first half.
The Lopes were struggling to keep possession and missing shots when they did. With four minutes remaining in the first half, St. John's led 27-16 with the Lopes at 25 percent shooting from the field with 11 turnovers.
GCU came alive in the final four minutes of the first half, starting with a Benson 3-pointer that keyed an 11-2 run. But when Oscar Frayer's defense set up a Benson drive that missed, St. John's was able to close out stronger for a 32-27 halftime lead.
Defense was giving the Lopes a chance to win again. St. John's only was shooting 38.5 percent from the field with turnovers at the half but GCU was shooting worse (31.3 percent) with more turnovers (11).
Return to gculopes.com later for Paul Coro's full recap with postgame reactions from head coach Dan Majerle and players.
The Lopes took to an ESPNU national television stage in the Phoenix Suns' arena with NBA executives, alumni and scouts watching NBA greats Dan Majerle and Chris Mullin face off as head coaches. The Havocs filled the arena's south end with their brand of bedlam but GCU (5-2) could not fill the basket enough to send them back to campus happy.
The Lopes trailed for the last 36 minutes of the game, trailing by as many as 15 before making one last push that trimmed the Red Storm's lead to seven with 1:52 to go.
St. John's (8-1) did not make a field goal for more than four crunch-time minutes but eventually was able to close out the win.
Senior point guard Casey Benson led GCU with a career-high 18 points while senior power forward Keonta Vernon matched a career high with 15 rebounds. However, the Lopes shot only 30.3 percent from the field, 25.0 percent on 3-pointers and 54.5 percent on free throws while committing 21 turnovers.
Sophomore guard Shamorie Ponds led St. John's with a game-high 28 points to help a St. John's offense that shot 39.6 percent and made 18 turnovers with only four bench points.
Each team entered Tuesday night as a top-10 scoring defense in Division I and the game played out as such. The effect was worse on GCU, which went without making a field goal for nearly eight minutes of the first half.
The Lopes were struggling to keep possession and missing shots when they did. With four minutes remaining in the first half, St. John's led 27-16 with the Lopes at 25 percent shooting from the field with 11 turnovers.
GCU came alive in the final four minutes of the first half, starting with a Benson 3-pointer that keyed an 11-2 run. But when Oscar Frayer's defense set up a Benson drive that missed, St. John's was able to close out stronger for a 32-27 halftime lead.
Defense was giving the Lopes a chance to win again. St. John's only was shooting 38.5 percent from the field with turnovers at the half but GCU was shooting worse (31.3 percent) with more turnovers (11).
Return to gculopes.com later for Paul Coro's full recap with postgame reactions from head coach Dan Majerle and players.
Players Mentioned
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