Lopes still going strong

Saturday, January 19

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

12-7, 5-1WAC

Kansas City

7-12, 2-2WAC

UMKC

Grand Canyon

1/19/2019 10:21:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro

Box Score Coach Majerle Press Conference Postgame with Carlos Johnson Photo Gallery

GCU posts largest back-to-back routs in WAC history

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

Early in the season, Grand Canyon leaned on its depth to overcome slow starts or wear opponents down.

But when the starters dominate, the Lopes can destroy a team with their team depth.

GCU shut out Kansas City for the first 6:46 of Saturday's game and the bench extended the lead to cruise to a 78-50 victory, completing the most lopsided WAC back-to-back blowouts in Lopes history. GCU walloped Chicago State 80-46 at GCU Arena two nights earlier.

The Lopes (12-7, 5-1 WAC) led 12-0 and 33-11 to leave no doubt that they would win their 16^th consecutive regular-season home game. GCU remains in a tie for the conference lead after CSU Bakersfield (13-6, 5-1 WAC) won 86-73 Saturday night at home against Chicago State, which led 71-70 with 3:05 remaining.

"It was a lot different," Lopes head coach Dan Majerle said. "I don't think we've got off to a start like that in a while so I was really proud of our defensive effort."

GCU did not leave anything to the imagination Saturday night with 50 percent shooting and standout performances from junior guard Carlos Johnson (career-high 21 points), senior power forward Michael Finke (14 points) and senior guard Trey Drechsel (13 points, 11 rebounds).

With UMKC (7-12, 2-2 WAC) shooting 34.5 percent and making 20 turnovers, the Lopes now have held nine of this season's 19 opponents to 40.4 percent shooting or worse and done so in five of the past six games. Roos guard Xavier Bishop averages 16 points and four assists but only made 4 of 11 shots Saturday to finish with 11 points, one assist and five turnovers.

"They've really focused in on what we're trying to do with the schemes," Majerle said. "They're just playing hard. Defense and rebounding. That's what we keep preaching. Our offense will get better if we play good defense and they're believing it. They really want to win."

The Lopes' defense has become more consistent, going without Matt Jackson (rib injury) for the past four games, Gerard Martin for a recent road win and Oscar Frayer for most of Saturday's win. Frayer injured his foot four minutes into the game and did not return. Majerle said initial X-rays were negative.

"It's more of a team effort now for sure," Michael Finke said. "Something that got better in conference play was our defense. That's what is going to help us win. When our defense is there, that gets us rolling and gives us confidence."

Finke scored in double figures for the second time in the past three games. He often is aggressive offensively early in games but was even more so Saturday, when he scored 12 of the Lopes' first 17 points with two 3-pointers, second-chance free throws, a fastbreak trailing layup and a reverse drive off a pass fake.

"I'm trying to stay confident and aggressive," Finke said. "I was thinking the other day, 'I only have a few of these games left.' So when the shot's there, I'm going to take it and I'm going to do whatever it takes to help the team win."

Finke passed the scoring baton to Johnson, who scored in double figures off the bench for the sixth consecutive game. After struggling with his 3-point shot this season, Johnson made a clutch go-ahead 3 at Texas-Rio Grande Valley and added a pair of 3s on Saturday.

As usual, Johnson did most of his damage on drives, either finishing at the rim or drawing fouls (7 for 7 on free throws). With 16 minutes remaining, Johnson already had topped his career high of two years ago, when he scored 19 for Washington against Arizona State.

"I'm being comfortable, getting downhill, making the right reads and just finishing strong," Johnson said. "That's all it was. I didn't do anything out of what I do usually. I'm used to getting beat up down there when I get to the basket. It's just the game of basketball. You've got to play through it and finish strong, like Coach said."

The guards continued to be a major reason for GCU's rebounding turnaround this season. Freshman guard Tim Finke grabbed nine rebounds off the bench, including four on offense, and Drechsel already had his second double-digit rebounding game by the first two minutes of the second half. He had half of GCU's first 14 rebounds when there were plenty of opportunities with the Roos missing 17 of their first 21 shots.

"It's just a matter of us not playing to our opponent but playing to our best self," Drechsel said. "We're starting to really adjust to that and no longer get up for New Mexico State and getting down for others. We're maturing as a unit. That speaks volumes to guys like G (Martin), Matt (Jackson) and Mike (Finke). They're taking the reins of the team and leading well."

The game also served as another opportunity to build sophomore power forward Roberts Blumbergs' confidence. He scored eight points Saturday to give him 18 on the two-game homestand after scoring 25 points in 11 previous appearances.

GCU made 23 of 27 free throws and only fouled 12 times, although four of those were by sophomore center Alessandro Lever to limit his time to 23 minutes.

The Lopes' schedule lightens up with a pair of upcoming one-game weeks that send the Lopes to California Baptist and CSU Bakersfield the next two Saturdays.

"These guys want to work," Majerle said. "They enjoy each other and like being in the gym. They see the focus and they see what they want to accomplish so they like coming to practice. We make it competitive."

Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.