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: ASU 71, GCU 70
12/13/2020 3:03:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
Lopes led in final minute of 1st DI meeting with ASU
Grand Canyon pushed No. 23 Arizona State to the limit Sunday at GCU Arena, taking a lead on Lopes senior Alessandro Lever's 3-pointer with 30 seconds to go before ASU's Remy Martin answered with a 3 and the Sun Devils came up with a game-winning stop and a 71-70 win.
Lever capped a 14-point half by hitting the go-ahead 3-pointer, but ASU found Martin for a corner 3 and a one-point lead. It left the Lopes with 6.2 seconds after a time out for a sideline inbound.
Lopes sophomore point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr. had been brilliant to follow up a career-high 22-point game in Friday's win against Nevada. He had a 21-point, five-assist, four-steal game Sunday and took the final inbound, but GCU could not free him with a screen and he wound up missing a buzzer 3-point attempt that was well-defended by ASU guard Holland Woods.
ASU's constant full-court pressure prompted GCU into 18 turnovers with the Sun Devils' smaller, quicker lineups. The Lopes handled the ball better as the game went along with 38% first-half shooting tutning into a 56% clip for the second half.
As GCU did in beating Nevada on Friday night, the Lopes kept answering every run by ASU even as the Sun Devils took an eight-point lead with 9:18 to go and a six-point lead with 4:55 remaining. Trailing 68-64, GCU senior Sean Miller-Moore came up with a huge offensive rebound to set up a Blacksher 3 that cut the lead to 68-67 with 1:12 to go.
After getting a stop on Alonzo Verge Jr.'s one-on-one play, Lever hit the go-ahead 3 on a Blacksher assist.
The potential upset started brewing in a grinder of a first half, when the Lopes took their first lead by shutting out ASU for 4:22. GCU senior forward Sean Miller-Moore, pressed into more duty with senior forward Oscar Frayer's foul trouble, came up with three steals over five possessions as the Lopes took a 13-10 lead on a pair of Lever free throws.
GCU built a 24-18 lead as it continued having success keeping ASU to the perimeter. The Lopes' turnover issues caved to the Sun Devils pressure late in the half, helping ASU take a 29-26 lead on a Woods 3 with a minute until halftime.
Blacksher saved momentum before halftime, scoring on a drive and then picking Martin near half-court when he turned to look at ASU head coach Bobby Hurley. Blacksher took it for a layup that put the Lopes ahead 30-29 at halftime.
Martin finished with 31 points, 23 of which came in the second half. In addition to Blacksher's 21 and Lever's 18, GCU senior center Asbjorn Midtgaard posted 14 points and nine rebounds.
Return to gculopes.com for Paul Coro's full game recap with comments from Bryce Drew and players.
Lever capped a 14-point half by hitting the go-ahead 3-pointer, but ASU found Martin for a corner 3 and a one-point lead. It left the Lopes with 6.2 seconds after a time out for a sideline inbound.
Lopes sophomore point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr. had been brilliant to follow up a career-high 22-point game in Friday's win against Nevada. He had a 21-point, five-assist, four-steal game Sunday and took the final inbound, but GCU could not free him with a screen and he wound up missing a buzzer 3-point attempt that was well-defended by ASU guard Holland Woods.
ASU's constant full-court pressure prompted GCU into 18 turnovers with the Sun Devils' smaller, quicker lineups. The Lopes handled the ball better as the game went along with 38% first-half shooting tutning into a 56% clip for the second half.
As GCU did in beating Nevada on Friday night, the Lopes kept answering every run by ASU even as the Sun Devils took an eight-point lead with 9:18 to go and a six-point lead with 4:55 remaining. Trailing 68-64, GCU senior Sean Miller-Moore came up with a huge offensive rebound to set up a Blacksher 3 that cut the lead to 68-67 with 1:12 to go.
After getting a stop on Alonzo Verge Jr.'s one-on-one play, Lever hit the go-ahead 3 on a Blacksher assist.
The potential upset started brewing in a grinder of a first half, when the Lopes took their first lead by shutting out ASU for 4:22. GCU senior forward Sean Miller-Moore, pressed into more duty with senior forward Oscar Frayer's foul trouble, came up with three steals over five possessions as the Lopes took a 13-10 lead on a pair of Lever free throws.
GCU built a 24-18 lead as it continued having success keeping ASU to the perimeter. The Lopes' turnover issues caved to the Sun Devils pressure late in the half, helping ASU take a 29-26 lead on a Woods 3 with a minute until halftime.
Blacksher saved momentum before halftime, scoring on a drive and then picking Martin near half-court when he turned to look at ASU head coach Bobby Hurley. Blacksher took it for a layup that put the Lopes ahead 30-29 at halftime.
Martin finished with 31 points, 23 of which came in the second half. In addition to Blacksher's 21 and Lever's 18, GCU senior center Asbjorn Midtgaard posted 14 points and nine rebounds.
Return to gculopes.com for Paul Coro's full game recap with comments from Bryce Drew and players.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ 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