Completed Event: Men's Basketball at UNLV on February 7, 2026 , Loss , 78, to, 80
M Basketball
at UNLV
L 78-80
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: Slaven Gujic
Senior spotlight: Keonta Vernon
3/1/2018 6:24:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
Senior night is almost always emotional.
Keonta Vernon is almost always emotional.
Saturday night will be an interesting mix for the Lopes' most passionate player.
Vernon wears his emotions, literally with a torso tattoo of the grandmother whose memory drives him and outwardly with how he rushes to teammates' aid or verbally spars with head coach Dan Majerle.
"I need him to love me first," Vernon said of Majerle for Saturday night's regular-season home finale against Cal State Bakersfield. "And then once the game starts, he can be Coach Majerle."
Vernon's three seasons at GCU have transformed him as a person, as his mother, two sisters, nieces and nephews, aunt, uncle, girlfriend, girlfriend's parents and new Arizona friends who attend Saturday night can attest about the Tulare, Calif., native and Southern Idaho junior college transfer.
As a player, Vernon's brawny, bouncy play puts him fourth in the Western Athletic Conference for rebounds per game (6.7) and blocked shots per game (1.2). He also averages 8.4 points per game with a field goal percentage of 48.5, which ranks ninth in the WAC. His defensive box plus-minus, an indicator of his defensive value, is No. 2 in the WAC to New Mexico State's Jemerrio Jones, according to sport-reference.com.
"He's been our physical presence," Majerle said. "He's always the loudest voice in practice. He shows up every day. He's been a fantastic addition to this team.
"He and I have a love-hate relationship. We get after each other pretty good and then we forget about it and move on. That's a guy who everybody loves. If everybody on this team was asked who they'd want in their foxhole, it'd be Keonta because he's got their backs. He's always going to support them and fight for them night in and night out."
At 6 feet 6, Vernon is not as tall as most frontcourt players, but few are as strong and quick as Vernon. That value has helped the Lopes go 68-26 during his three seasons with more to come in the GCU's first NCAA Division I postseason. He was an impact player from the time he stepped on campus in 2015 and became a part-time starter as a sophomore.
"I was a little bit heavier but I had some fresher legs so I was jumping a lot more," Vernon said of watching old GCU game video of himself. "You don't see that too often nowadays. Looking back, I'm like, 'Damn, that was a dumb foul. That was stupid.' I look back at all the dumb stuff I was doing on the court and now that I've got it down pat, I'm like, 'Why couldn't I just do it then?' "
There is closure with Saturday's game to the end of the regular season but Vernon also expects to be playing several more games in the WAC Tournament and beyond.
"It's going to be emotional because it's the last home game in front of an incredible home crowd," Vernon said. "I love GCU. I've changed dramatically. But I don't know. I might have to bottle it up or let it all out during the game. It's going to be a game-time decision."
Each day this week, a senior men's basketball player will be spotlighted to lead up to the final home game Saturday against Cal State Bakersfield.
Keonta Vernon is almost always emotional.
Saturday night will be an interesting mix for the Lopes' most passionate player.
Vernon wears his emotions, literally with a torso tattoo of the grandmother whose memory drives him and outwardly with how he rushes to teammates' aid or verbally spars with head coach Dan Majerle.
"I need him to love me first," Vernon said of Majerle for Saturday night's regular-season home finale against Cal State Bakersfield. "And then once the game starts, he can be Coach Majerle."
Vernon's three seasons at GCU have transformed him as a person, as his mother, two sisters, nieces and nephews, aunt, uncle, girlfriend, girlfriend's parents and new Arizona friends who attend Saturday night can attest about the Tulare, Calif., native and Southern Idaho junior college transfer.
As a player, Vernon's brawny, bouncy play puts him fourth in the Western Athletic Conference for rebounds per game (6.7) and blocked shots per game (1.2). He also averages 8.4 points per game with a field goal percentage of 48.5, which ranks ninth in the WAC. His defensive box plus-minus, an indicator of his defensive value, is No. 2 in the WAC to New Mexico State's Jemerrio Jones, according to sport-reference.com.
"He's been our physical presence," Majerle said. "He's always the loudest voice in practice. He shows up every day. He's been a fantastic addition to this team.
"He and I have a love-hate relationship. We get after each other pretty good and then we forget about it and move on. That's a guy who everybody loves. If everybody on this team was asked who they'd want in their foxhole, it'd be Keonta because he's got their backs. He's always going to support them and fight for them night in and night out."
At 6 feet 6, Vernon is not as tall as most frontcourt players, but few are as strong and quick as Vernon. That value has helped the Lopes go 68-26 during his three seasons with more to come in the GCU's first NCAA Division I postseason. He was an impact player from the time he stepped on campus in 2015 and became a part-time starter as a sophomore.
"I was a little bit heavier but I had some fresher legs so I was jumping a lot more," Vernon said of watching old GCU game video of himself. "You don't see that too often nowadays. Looking back, I'm like, 'Damn, that was a dumb foul. That was stupid.' I look back at all the dumb stuff I was doing on the court and now that I've got it down pat, I'm like, 'Why couldn't I just do it then?' "
There is closure with Saturday's game to the end of the regular season but Vernon also expects to be playing several more games in the WAC Tournament and beyond.
"It's going to be emotional because it's the last home game in front of an incredible home crowd," Vernon said. "I love GCU. I've changed dramatically. But I don't know. I might have to bottle it up or let it all out during the game. It's going to be a game-time decision."
Each day this week, a senior men's basketball player will be spotlighted to lead up to the final home game Saturday against Cal State Bakersfield.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballGCU Men's Basketball vs. Fresno State - Postgame Radio with Bryce Drew
Wednesday, March 11
GCU Men's Basketball vs. Fresno State - Postgame Radio with Brian Moore Jr.
Wednesday, March 11
What's Ahead for the Mountain West Tournament?
Monday, March 09
GCU Men's Basketball vs. Fresno State - Postgame with Dusty Stromer, Brian Moore Jr.
Sunday, March 08