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: GCU 87, Nevada 77
12/11/2020 8:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
Lopes make statement win of season vs. Wolf Pack
Grand Canyon pulled off the first statement win of the season, coming off a 10-day layoff to knock off a well-tested Nevada team 87-77 at GCU Arena.
GCU was engaged in an entertaining back-and-forth battle for much of the game Friday night against the Wolf Pack, a NCAA tournament regular that entered with a 4-1 record. The Lopes moved to 4-0 for the first time since 2017 by burying Nevada with a 15-0 second-half run when the starters returned to the floor to answer a Wolf Pack run.
GCU sophomore point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr. guided the win in a marquee point guard matchup against Nevada's Grant Sherfield. Blacksher finished with a career-high 22 points on 7-of-14 shooting and handing out four assists with only one turnover in 37 minutes of play.
The Lopes lost a first-half lead with a run of turnovers and let a six-point second-half lead with fouls and sloppy possessions. But they got cooking with the help of senior shooting guard Mikey Dixon, who scored all 11 of his points in the second half.
During the run that turned a 62-60 deficit into a 75-62 lead, Dixon converted at the rim off a fastbreak and a baseline reverse before nailing a 3-pointer for a 75-62 lead with 6:29 remaining in the game. The Lopes scored on seven consecutive possessions during the 15-0 run over less than four minutes, prompting Nevada head coach Steve Alford to call a time out after key defensive plays from GCU senior small forward Oscar Frayer (blocked shot), senior center Asbjorn Midtgaard (tie-up) and sophomore power forward Gabe McGlothan (charge taken).
Midtgaard (three) and Frayer (two) combined for five blocked shots, as Nevada shot 35.8% in the second half. Frayer added 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds and set the program's Division I-era career record for blocks.
Heading into a Sunday home game against No. 23 Arizona State, the Lopes shot 58% against their first opponent that could match up with their size. GCU shook off its early-season free throw doldrums (56%) to make 18 of 23 at the line, including 9-for-11 conversion by GCU senior power forward Alessandro Lever on his way to 19 points. Lever moved into fifth place on the all-time GCU scoring leader list.
GCU was engaged in an entertaining back-and-forth battle for much of the game Friday night against the Wolf Pack, a NCAA tournament regular that entered with a 4-1 record. The Lopes moved to 4-0 for the first time since 2017 by burying Nevada with a 15-0 second-half run when the starters returned to the floor to answer a Wolf Pack run.
GCU sophomore point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr. guided the win in a marquee point guard matchup against Nevada's Grant Sherfield. Blacksher finished with a career-high 22 points on 7-of-14 shooting and handing out four assists with only one turnover in 37 minutes of play.
The Lopes lost a first-half lead with a run of turnovers and let a six-point second-half lead with fouls and sloppy possessions. But they got cooking with the help of senior shooting guard Mikey Dixon, who scored all 11 of his points in the second half.
During the run that turned a 62-60 deficit into a 75-62 lead, Dixon converted at the rim off a fastbreak and a baseline reverse before nailing a 3-pointer for a 75-62 lead with 6:29 remaining in the game. The Lopes scored on seven consecutive possessions during the 15-0 run over less than four minutes, prompting Nevada head coach Steve Alford to call a time out after key defensive plays from GCU senior small forward Oscar Frayer (blocked shot), senior center Asbjorn Midtgaard (tie-up) and sophomore power forward Gabe McGlothan (charge taken).
Midtgaard (three) and Frayer (two) combined for five blocked shots, as Nevada shot 35.8% in the second half. Frayer added 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds and set the program's Division I-era career record for blocks.
Heading into a Sunday home game against No. 23 Arizona State, the Lopes shot 58% against their first opponent that could match up with their size. GCU shook off its early-season free throw doldrums (56%) to make 18 of 23 at the line, including 9-for-11 conversion by GCU senior power forward Alessandro Lever on his way to 19 points. Lever moved into fifth place on the all-time GCU scoring leader list.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ 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