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
Rapid Recap: New Mexico 91, GCU 71
12/17/2019 7:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
Lobos stay undefeated at The Pit, go to 11-2 overall
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A two-minute warning for Grand Canyon means how quickly a game can get away from them.
The Lopes were facing a larger New Mexico team that had not lost at home this season but fought to play with the Lobos for the vast majority of the game on Tuesday night. But New Mexico put together a 12-0 run in less than two minutes of the first half and came back with another 12-0 run in about two minutes of the second half to glide to a 91-71 victory at The Pit.
The Lobos (11-2) moved to 8-0 at home with its usual uptempo offense but threw in an unusual 3-point shooting night to spoil the GCU debut of junior guard Mikey Dixon. New Mexico averages five 3-pointers per game but made 14 of 26 from 3-point range against the Lopes.
The loss spoiled one of the better offensive nights of the season for junior center Alessandro Lever, who posted 18 points and 11 rebounds with 9-for-10 shooting. Lever was the first GCU player to shoot 90% from the field with at least nine makes since Grandy Glaze four seasons ago.
Junior Carlos Johnson, starting at power forward on Tuesday, led GCU with 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting. Dixon shook off 11 months of rust from not playing a game and went scoreless until the final play of the first half but finished with 10 points. GCU freshman point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr. added 12 points, eight assists and three steals in 38 minutes of play, as he stays in the national top five for minutes played.
New Mexico is No. 2 in free throws in the nation but did not get to the game regularly until it scored on free throws on its final three first-half possessions to hold onto a 37-31 lead. It was still manageable despite giving up a 12-0 run because the lopes led for much of hte first 6 1/2 minutes of the game and got Johnson going at the end of the half. Johnson scored nine consecutive points to help keep GCU in striking distance for the second half.
The Lobos' trapping zone defense unsettled the Lopes' offense to set up the second 12-0 run early in the second half, when New Mexico stormed out to a 59-39 lead with 12:25 to go. GCU went scoreless for 3 1/2 minutes with two turnovers and three misses at the rim.
The Lopes made their final threat when Blacksher used a steal by senior power forward Lorenzo Jenkins to get two free throws in transition, where GCU did not capitalize on all opportunities but still had 12 fastbreak points.
New Mexico shot 55% from the field were led by 6-10 senior power forward Carlton Bragg, a former Kansas and Arizona State player, tallied 20 points and 14 rebounds, following a 17-point, 17-rebound game when the Lobos beat New Mexico State on Saturday. JaQuan Lyle, a 6-5 guard who transferred from Ohio State, made 4 of 5 from 3-point range to score 21 points and added six assists. With the win, the past three GCU opponents have a combined 36-3 record.
Return to gculopes.com for Paul Coro's full game recap with comments from Dan Majerle.
The Lopes were facing a larger New Mexico team that had not lost at home this season but fought to play with the Lobos for the vast majority of the game on Tuesday night. But New Mexico put together a 12-0 run in less than two minutes of the first half and came back with another 12-0 run in about two minutes of the second half to glide to a 91-71 victory at The Pit.
The Lobos (11-2) moved to 8-0 at home with its usual uptempo offense but threw in an unusual 3-point shooting night to spoil the GCU debut of junior guard Mikey Dixon. New Mexico averages five 3-pointers per game but made 14 of 26 from 3-point range against the Lopes.
The loss spoiled one of the better offensive nights of the season for junior center Alessandro Lever, who posted 18 points and 11 rebounds with 9-for-10 shooting. Lever was the first GCU player to shoot 90% from the field with at least nine makes since Grandy Glaze four seasons ago.
Junior Carlos Johnson, starting at power forward on Tuesday, led GCU with 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting. Dixon shook off 11 months of rust from not playing a game and went scoreless until the final play of the first half but finished with 10 points. GCU freshman point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr. added 12 points, eight assists and three steals in 38 minutes of play, as he stays in the national top five for minutes played.
New Mexico is No. 2 in free throws in the nation but did not get to the game regularly until it scored on free throws on its final three first-half possessions to hold onto a 37-31 lead. It was still manageable despite giving up a 12-0 run because the lopes led for much of hte first 6 1/2 minutes of the game and got Johnson going at the end of the half. Johnson scored nine consecutive points to help keep GCU in striking distance for the second half.
The Lobos' trapping zone defense unsettled the Lopes' offense to set up the second 12-0 run early in the second half, when New Mexico stormed out to a 59-39 lead with 12:25 to go. GCU went scoreless for 3 1/2 minutes with two turnovers and three misses at the rim.
The Lopes made their final threat when Blacksher used a steal by senior power forward Lorenzo Jenkins to get two free throws in transition, where GCU did not capitalize on all opportunities but still had 12 fastbreak points.
New Mexico shot 55% from the field were led by 6-10 senior power forward Carlton Bragg, a former Kansas and Arizona State player, tallied 20 points and 14 rebounds, following a 17-point, 17-rebound game when the Lobos beat New Mexico State on Saturday. JaQuan Lyle, a 6-5 guard who transferred from Ohio State, made 4 of 5 from 3-point range to score 21 points and added six assists. With the win, the past three GCU opponents have a combined 36-3 record.
Return to gculopes.com for Paul Coro's full game recap with comments from Dan Majerle.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ 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