Series edge put to test at SDSU

Wednesday, Nov. 13 \| 8 p.m. (Phoenix time) \| San Diego, Calif.

	GRAND CANYON LOPES (0-2)	AT	SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS (2-0)

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SAN DIEGO – With rebounding issues, Grand Canyon next visits a San Diego State team that outrebounded its first two opponents 105-68 combined.

With a shallow rotation, GCU plays Wednesday at San Diego State against a team that is so deep it brings a three-year starter off the bench.

Without a win after two home games, the Lopes look for their first one in an 8 p.m. game (Phoenix time) against an Aztecs team that ranks 14th nationally for winning percentage over the past decade.

Somehow, GCU always has found a way despite being the underdog against San Diego State. The Lopes take a 3-0 all-time record vs. the Aztecs into Wednesday, making GCU the only team besides Duke, Stanford, Tennessee and Villanova to be unbeaten against San Diego State with at least three meetings.

The Lopes were encouraged but certainly not satisfied with an 83-71 home loss to Illinois on Friday, when GCU trailed by four points with four minutes remaining.

"We just are trying to get better every day," said Lopes head coach Dan Majerle, whose teams beat San Diego State in 2015 (away) and 2016 (home). "It was better (vs. Illinois) but we've still got a long way to go. The schedule doesn't get any easier so we have to find a way."

Six players accounted for all but 13 of GCU's playing minutes Friday, when the Lopes were outrebounded 52-26. With the only size behind 6-foot-10 junior Alessandro Lever being inexperienced 6-10 center Louis Bangai, Lever must avoid the early fouls that change the way he plays.

In the exhibition and two regular-season games, Lever has picked up his first foul in the first 39 seconds, two minutes and 29 seconds of the games. GCU was competitive Friday despite Lever being limited to 16 minutes of action and fouling out with 10:10 to play.

"It's on me," Lever said. "I should have played more solid defense instead of reaching and do the stuff that I did. I've got to learn to not get a foul in the first minute of the game. Otherwise, it's going to affect the rest of the game and I can't be as aggressive as I should be."

San Diego State is coming off a 76-71 win at BYU after thumping Texas Southern 77-42 at home. The Aztecs averaged 10,885 fans per game last season at Viejas Center and went 21-13 overall, then added graduate transfers from Vanderbilt (6-10 stretch power forward Yanni Wetzel) and Santa Clara (6-1 point guard K.J. Feagin) and another transfer from Washington State (6-1 junior shooting guard Malachi Flynn).

"They've got size and can really shoot it," Majerle said. "They're a good team with good pressure defense so it'll be a test."

The Lopes are expecting more from their seniors, swingman Carlos Johnson and power forward Lorenzo Jenkins. Majerle praised Johnson for playing one of his best team games Friday despite having an off shooting night from the field (2 for 10) and missing two important free throws late in the game.

"We have to play together as a team," Lever said. "Our energy was better (against Illinois) but we need to be tough to try to even up the rebounding battle. If we play solid defense and rebound well and play together, we'll have a chance to win."

Starting guards Isiah Brown and Jovan Blacksher Jr. have averaged 31.0 points and 9.5 assists combined with 53 percent shooting from the field in the first two games. That is especially impressive coming from Blacksher, a true freshman who is balancing his physical defense with a need to avoid fouls.

"The loss hurt a little but we played more aggressive than the first game," Blacksher said. "I feel like if we play like that from now on, we'll be very hard to beat."

Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.

Wednesday, Nov. 13 | 8 p.m. (Phoenix time) | San Diego, Calif.

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Players Mentioned

Louis Bangai

Jovan Blacksher Jr.

Isiah Brown

Lorenzo Jenkins

Carlos Johnson

Alessandro Lever

Grand Canyon University Athletics