GCU answers each bell to knock out Nevada

Friday, December 11

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

4-0

Nevada

4-2

Nevada

Grand Canyon

12/11/2020 10:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro

Box Score Drew Presser Blacksher Presser Photo Gallery

Win keyed by 15-0 second-half run, Blacksher's career-high 22 points

By: Paul Coro

Grand Canyon went from a 10-day layoff to a 40-minute fire Friday night.

The intensity of its game with Nevada kept having the Lopes' adversity smack down their prosperity. That just brought out a deeper strength and highlighted a solid foundation, as GCU torched Nevada with a 15-0 second-half run that took the lead and command. The Lopes won 87-77 at GCU Arena for their best win since knocking off San Diego State four years ago and a statement victory that had ESPN analyst Dick Vitale calling GCU his "team of the night."

GCU is 4-0 for the first time since 2017 as head coach Bryce Drew's team heads into a 2 p.m. Sunday showdown against No. 23 Arizona State at GCU Arena. The Lopes face a quick turnaround, but they know something about that after taking the lead against the Wolf Pack (4-2) for good with scores on seven consecutive possessions.

"I learned that we like to compete, that we are tough," said GCU sophomore point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr., who epitomized that by scoring a career-high 22 points in a touted matchup with Nevada's Grant Sherfield. "When adversity hits, we don't just fold. We kind of like adversity. Our practices are real hard, thanks to Bryce Drew in a good way. So I wouldn't say the games are easy, but we're used to the adversity and the hard running up and down."

Drew recorded his first statement win at GCU with a key second-half move. He called a time out to restore the starting lineup after Nevada wiped out the Lopes' six-point lead with six unanswered points on two fouls and an unmolested layup.

Lopes senior guard Mikey Dixon scored all 11 of his points in the second half, finishing at the rim on a fastbreak and on a baseline reverse before giving GCU a 75-62 lead by draining a 3-pointer with 6:29 remaining.

"I was proud of Mikey because he was patient," Drew said. "He kept waiting his turn. We talk to our team that there's going to be certain days that certain players are going to get more shots than others. You've just got to keep trusting the offense. Mikey trusted it and all of a sudden, the last 10 minutes, it was his turn. He got the call and stepped up and made a lot of big plays for us."

GCU's defense made highlights during the 15-0 run just like the offense. Senior small forward Oscar Frayer, who led the team with nine rebounds, broke the program's Division I career blocked shots record and then added a swat of a layup during the run. Senior center Asbjørn Midtgaard tied up a loose ball when the Lopes owned the possession arrow. And right before Dixon's 3, sophomore power forward Gabe McGlothan took a charge for the second time in the game.

The Lopes sustained the double-digit lead as a crowd of 325 Havocs students with band, cheer and dance made it feel like the lower-bowl cutout characters were cheering too.

"It's a great place for energy, wow," Nevada head coach Steve Alford said. "The 300 fans with all the cutouts, they know how to do it. That was a really cool environment. Of all the places we've been, this has been the best spot."

GCU shot 58% from the field and turned around its early-season struggles at the 3-point line (9 of 19 on Friday) and free throw line (18 of 23). Lever made 9 of 11 free throws to boost his 19-point night and move into fifth place on the Lopes all-time scoring leader list.

But Blacksher stirred the offense. He committed one turnover in 37 minutes of play while handing out four assists and making 7 of 14 shots, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range to highlight his offseason work on his shot.

Freshman guard Jayden Stone was making his best impact yet in the first half with a 3-pointer, a scoring drive and a steal in a one-minute stretch, but an ankle sprain ended his night early.

"Man, I'm so proud of this team," Drew said. "I thought they really went out each time and responded with either a big made basket or a defensive stop at the other end. There were definitely four or five times we could've folded and our guys kept fighting back."