Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball at Baylor on October 10, 2025 at 2 p.m. (MST)
M Basketball
2 p.m. (MST)
at Baylor
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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Saturday, November 16
Phoenix, Ariz.
6 p.m.
Grand Canyon
1-3,0-0WAC
67
vs
54
Arkansas - Pine Bluff
0-3,0-0SWAC
1
2
F
Ark.-Pine Bluff
22
32
54
Grand Canyon
29
38
67
Winning ways start at home
11/16/2019 9:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
Lopes win 67-54 with Lever scoring 25 points
That Saturday night win was fun for Grand Canyon.
But the point of the victory was how much the Lopes wanted the 67-54 win and whether they are satisfied with beating Arkansas-Pine Bluff at GCU Arena.
A small step in the right direction might prove big for the Lopes, especially with the positive signs of ball movement (24 field goals on 20 assists) and breakout games from their previously struggling stars.
GCU junior center Alessandro Lever fouled out quickly in the previous two games but sparked his team Saturday night with a 16-point first half on his way to a 25-point, six-rebound, four-assist game with 9-of-12 shooting.
"We needed it," Lever said of the win. "We had to get a win."
Senior swingman Carlos Johnson, the Lopes' other Preseason All-WAC first-team selection, came in shooting 31% over three games but made 7 of 12 shots against the Southwestern Athletic Conference visitor for 17 points that went with seven rebounds.
"We still have a ton of work to do, and our guys know that, but I am happy with the win," GCU head coach Dan Majerle said. "Hopefully, we can take some positives out of this, and move on and get ready for Montana State."
The Lopes were facing a 2-3 zone defense for the first time this season but picked it apart at times with Lever and junior reserve forward J.J. Rhymes pivoting at the high post to feed baseline cutters.
Rhymes delivered a team season-high seven assists and also led GCU in rebounds with nine in 25 minutes as the sixth man.
"When I can get other people open and get them the ball that's where I'm comfortable at," Rhymes said. "That's just what it is. I like having fun and getting other people involved. When we all have fun, that turns into wins."
Rhymes found Lever for layups or slams three times during an 8-0 first-half run that put GCU ahead 26-16 when Lever used his slimmer frame for a jam with 7:05 until halftime. But the passing that set up 11 made field goals with 10 assists vanished late in the half, when a five-minute stretch without a made field goal kept the lead to 29-22 at halftime.
The Lopes never pulled away from the Golden Lions but stayed in control by never allowing Pine Bluff to score on consecutive possessions over the final 14 minutes. GCU junior guard Isiah Brown did not score in the first half but applied the crushing blow when he made a 3-pointer for a 60-45 lead with 4:16 to go.
Lever had fouled out of the previous two games in 16 and 20 minutes and picked up another first-minute foul Saturday but went most of the game without another one. He remained assertive offensively, knocking down his only 3-point attempt, slamming twice and scoring at the rim four more times.
The Lopes shot 47% despite going 5 for 20 on 3-pointers.
"Everybody was trying to get the ball inside, that's how you attack the zone by passing the ball inside and out and something is going to happen," said Lever, who had his highest point total since scoring 27 at San Diego last December. "I was a little more aggressive and quick. I knew the ball was coming so I had to try and score."
Defensively, the Lopes held the Lions to 34.6% shooting and coerced 16 turnovers. Johnson was responsible for two with steals but deflected several other balls for his best two-way game of the season.
"Sometimes, he just has to let the game come to him," Majerle said. "I gave him a lot of credit. He's trying to play the right way. He is trying to do the right things. He is a talented kid and he will figure it out."
The Lopes will have a step in competition with Tuesday night's visitor, Montana State, which has won three consecutive games since losing 81-73 opener at Utah State.
"They were happy to win, but I don't think it was relief," Majerle said of his team. "I think those guys have a lot of confidence and they think they should win. Every game, they think they should win. They just have to put that effort in and have the trust to do the right things to win."
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
But the point of the victory was how much the Lopes wanted the 67-54 win and whether they are satisfied with beating Arkansas-Pine Bluff at GCU Arena.
A small step in the right direction might prove big for the Lopes, especially with the positive signs of ball movement (24 field goals on 20 assists) and breakout games from their previously struggling stars.
GCU junior center Alessandro Lever fouled out quickly in the previous two games but sparked his team Saturday night with a 16-point first half on his way to a 25-point, six-rebound, four-assist game with 9-of-12 shooting.
"We needed it," Lever said of the win. "We had to get a win."
Senior swingman Carlos Johnson, the Lopes' other Preseason All-WAC first-team selection, came in shooting 31% over three games but made 7 of 12 shots against the Southwestern Athletic Conference visitor for 17 points that went with seven rebounds.
"We still have a ton of work to do, and our guys know that, but I am happy with the win," GCU head coach Dan Majerle said. "Hopefully, we can take some positives out of this, and move on and get ready for Montana State."
The Lopes were facing a 2-3 zone defense for the first time this season but picked it apart at times with Lever and junior reserve forward J.J. Rhymes pivoting at the high post to feed baseline cutters.
Rhymes delivered a team season-high seven assists and also led GCU in rebounds with nine in 25 minutes as the sixth man.
"When I can get other people open and get them the ball that's where I'm comfortable at," Rhymes said. "That's just what it is. I like having fun and getting other people involved. When we all have fun, that turns into wins."
Rhymes found Lever for layups or slams three times during an 8-0 first-half run that put GCU ahead 26-16 when Lever used his slimmer frame for a jam with 7:05 until halftime. But the passing that set up 11 made field goals with 10 assists vanished late in the half, when a five-minute stretch without a made field goal kept the lead to 29-22 at halftime.
The Lopes never pulled away from the Golden Lions but stayed in control by never allowing Pine Bluff to score on consecutive possessions over the final 14 minutes. GCU junior guard Isiah Brown did not score in the first half but applied the crushing blow when he made a 3-pointer for a 60-45 lead with 4:16 to go.
Lever had fouled out of the previous two games in 16 and 20 minutes and picked up another first-minute foul Saturday but went most of the game without another one. He remained assertive offensively, knocking down his only 3-point attempt, slamming twice and scoring at the rim four more times.
The Lopes shot 47% despite going 5 for 20 on 3-pointers.
"Everybody was trying to get the ball inside, that's how you attack the zone by passing the ball inside and out and something is going to happen," said Lever, who had his highest point total since scoring 27 at San Diego last December. "I was a little more aggressive and quick. I knew the ball was coming so I had to try and score."
Defensively, the Lopes held the Lions to 34.6% shooting and coerced 16 turnovers. Johnson was responsible for two with steals but deflected several other balls for his best two-way game of the season.
"Sometimes, he just has to let the game come to him," Majerle said. "I gave him a lot of credit. He's trying to play the right way. He is trying to do the right things. He is a talented kid and he will figure it out."
The Lopes will have a step in competition with Tuesday night's visitor, Montana State, which has won three consecutive games since losing 81-73 opener at Utah State.
"They were happy to win, but I don't think it was relief," Majerle said of his team. "I think those guys have a lot of confidence and they think they should win. Every game, they think they should win. They just have to put that effort in and have the trust to do the right things to win."
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
Team Stats
UAPB
GCU
FG%
.393
.471
3FG%
.214
.250
FT%
.500
.737
RB
35
33
TO
16
15
STL
13
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
25
FGM
9
3FGM
1
FTM
6
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballC
/ Men's Basketball
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