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
WAC rapid recap: GCU 78, UVU 74
3/15/2019 9:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
Lopes, Wolverines settle rubber match in semis
LAS VEGAS — The formula works.
For a second consecutive night, Grand Canyon trailed at halftime.
For a second consecutive night, GCU junior Carlos Johnson recorded a career high in scoring.
For a second consecutive night, the Lopes proved clutch and defeated Utah Valley 78-74 in the WAC Tournament semifinal for the second consecutive year at Orleans Arena.
GCU (20-12) returns to the WAC Tournament championship game with Johnson following Thursday night's career-high 31-point performance with a 35-point game to oust Utah Valley (24-9) for the second consecutive year. The Lopes will get another crack at defending champion New Mexico State (29-4) at 7 p.m. (Phoenix time) on ESPNU.
GCU shook off a 44-40 halftime hole that stretched to 46-40 by using more of an unstoppable arsenal from Johnson, who also set a career-high for 3-pointers for a second consecutive night when he made six 3s to carry the GCU offense.
The Lopes came up with key stops and steals down the stretch, including holding WAC Player of the Year Jake Toolson to seven points on 3-of-11 shooting. He was held scoreless in the second half, largely from the defense of junior swingman Oscar Frayer.
GCU nearly shut out Utah Valley for the final three minutes of regulation until a meaningless last-second basket. The Wolverines were 9 for 9 on free throws in the first half but only attempted one in the second half
Johnson never cooled off from his career night in Thursday's first-round win, when he scored 22 of his 31 points in the second half to beat Seattle. He followed that 22-point half with a 21-point first half that shot GCU out to an early lead and kept the Lopes in the game when Utah Valley responded.
Johnson scored 12 points during GCU's 19-12 start over the game's first seven minutes but Utah Valley used another big run to take control. Last week at Utah Valley, the Wolverines used a 10-0 run in each half to beat the Lopes and they assembled another Friday with an 11-0 run that took the lead. Senior power forward Matt Jackson helped GCU dig in at that point with two jump shots that kept the Lopes close and that carried through the first half's final minutes until the Wolverines went to halftime with a 44-40 lead.
Return to gculopes.com for Paul Coro's full game recap with comments from Dan Majerle and players.
For a second consecutive night, Grand Canyon trailed at halftime.
For a second consecutive night, GCU junior Carlos Johnson recorded a career high in scoring.
For a second consecutive night, the Lopes proved clutch and defeated Utah Valley 78-74 in the WAC Tournament semifinal for the second consecutive year at Orleans Arena.
GCU (20-12) returns to the WAC Tournament championship game with Johnson following Thursday night's career-high 31-point performance with a 35-point game to oust Utah Valley (24-9) for the second consecutive year. The Lopes will get another crack at defending champion New Mexico State (29-4) at 7 p.m. (Phoenix time) on ESPNU.
GCU shook off a 44-40 halftime hole that stretched to 46-40 by using more of an unstoppable arsenal from Johnson, who also set a career-high for 3-pointers for a second consecutive night when he made six 3s to carry the GCU offense.
The Lopes came up with key stops and steals down the stretch, including holding WAC Player of the Year Jake Toolson to seven points on 3-of-11 shooting. He was held scoreless in the second half, largely from the defense of junior swingman Oscar Frayer.
GCU nearly shut out Utah Valley for the final three minutes of regulation until a meaningless last-second basket. The Wolverines were 9 for 9 on free throws in the first half but only attempted one in the second half
Johnson never cooled off from his career night in Thursday's first-round win, when he scored 22 of his 31 points in the second half to beat Seattle. He followed that 22-point half with a 21-point first half that shot GCU out to an early lead and kept the Lopes in the game when Utah Valley responded.
Johnson scored 12 points during GCU's 19-12 start over the game's first seven minutes but Utah Valley used another big run to take control. Last week at Utah Valley, the Wolverines used a 10-0 run in each half to beat the Lopes and they assembled another Friday with an 11-0 run that took the lead. Senior power forward Matt Jackson helped GCU dig in at that point with two jump shots that kept the Lopes close and that carried through the first half's final minutes until the Wolverines went to halftime with a 44-40 lead.
Return to gculopes.com for Paul Coro's full game recap with comments from Dan Majerle and players.
Players Mentioned
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GCU Men's Basketball vs. Fresno State - Postgame with Dusty Stromer, Brian Moore Jr.
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