Boards, bench build big win

Monday, November 12

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Jacksonville

Grand Canyon

11/12/2018 10:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro

Box Score PHOTO GALLERY

GCU downs Jacksonville 76-59 at home

By: <a href="http://gculopes.com/index.aspx?path=coro">Paul Coro</a>

If Grand Canyon never lets up, there would never be any catching up for opponents.

That is where the GCU bench comes into play, with an ability to maintain or expand leads with what Lopes head coach Dan Majerle considers to be his deepest Lopes roster.

That showed in the most crucial stretch of Monday night's 76-59 win against Jacksonville at GCU Arena. The bench entered to a tie score and had GCU leading by 15 after six minutes of play.

Sophomore center Alessandro Lever was the Lopes' leading scorer with 15 points, their only double-digit effort, but it was GCU's first-half bench effort that changed the game.

Lopes sophomore reserve point guard Damari Milstead sparked an 18-3 run that gave GCU (2-1) a lead that stayed in double digits for the final 27 minutes.

The bench scored as many points Monday (37) as it had in GCU's first two games combined (37) and nearly as many as the starting lineup tallied Monday (39).

"The bench group is the energy group so we just come in and play our butts off on defense and try to keep the team going that way," said Lopes senior reserve power forward Matt Jackson, who recorded seven points and eight rebounds in 14 minutes.

The Lopes' three-game homestand concludes Friday against Arkansas State with more to shore up before GCU heads to the Wooden Legacy tournament next week. GCU made 15 turnovers Friday and would be more troubled by continued 3-point shooting struggles if it had not missed so many layups Monday.

Through three games, the Lopes are shooting 25.6 percent from 3-point range (20 for 78) but it was key to see sophomore reserve power forward Roberts Blumbergs make two corner 3-pointers Friday after he started the season 1 for 9 from the field.

GCU's season-opening rebounding problems have undergone a dramatic turnaround to be the only team in the nation with two 50-plus rebounding games. On Friday, The Lopes used their significant size advantage over Jacksonville (0-2) to outrebound the Dolphins 52-25, including 21 offensive rebounds.

GCU did not have a 50-rebound game last season or more than 17 offensive rebounds in any game. Their top rebounders Friday came off the bench, with Jackson and freshman guard Tim Finke each snagging eight boards.

"That second group gave us a boost," GCU head coach Dan Majerle said. "I probably should've brought them in earlier in the second half but that first group has to learn how to play too. Unless I just decide to play all 10 guys 20 minutes (each). That starting group is supposed to be the starting group so sometimes they have to push through. Can't always just yank them when things aren't going right, especially this early in the season. I wanted to see how they respond."

Milstead scored in various ways – a rebound follow, a drive, a crossover move that drew free throws and a pull-up jumper that beat the shot clock. After scoring five points in the first two games, Milstead contributed to seven points to the 18-3 run and finished with nine points and three assists. While he and Finke teamed in the backcourt, GCU outscored Jacksonville by 17 points. The game was even otherwise.

"I wanted to bring a spark," Milstead said. "I knew we were struggling a little bit. They were getting into us. I just wanted to get to the basket and make plays."

With a 27-9 rebounding advantage, the Lopes led 41-22 at halftime and then stretched the lead to 47-22 on a 3-point play by junior guard Carlos Johnson, who has scored all 33 of his points this season in second halves.

Jacksonville gradually worked the Lopes lead down until it was 11 with 4:51 to play. The defense than did not allow Jacksonville to score again until 46 seconds remained. The Dolphins shot 38.9 percent, following GCU holding Delaware State to 27.8 percent shooting Saturday.

"A mature team gets a lead and keeps it," Jackson said. "We've got to learn not to give into that and keep our foot on the gas and blow them out when we've got them."

Lever was limited by first-half foul trouble in the first two games but still scored 14 points in 14 minutes of action Saturday. The WAC Preseason Player of the year re-established his offensive mix Monday, hitting his only 3-point shot and drawing fouls in the paint for six free throws among his 15 points.

"I told him this is a tough year for him," Majerle said. "It's not going to be, 'Who's this kid?' They know. Every time he's down there, they are going to be slapping the ball and he's got to fight through it. I'm on him harder than anybody. If I can't yell at my best player, who am I going to yell at? He's got to get better.

"Right now, I'll be honest with you, he's not very good. He's not finishing around the basket. He's getting the ball slapped out of his hands. He's just not very strong and that's one thing he's really got to work on. He'll do it. He's a hard worker but it's my job to be hard on him."

Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.