USF's 3-point barrage edges GCU in Vegas

Sunday, December 20

Las Vegas, Nev. / T-Mobile Arena

5 p.m.

Grand Canyon

4-2,0-0WAC

San Francisco

6-4,0-0WCC

Grand Canyon

San Francisco

12/20/2020 5:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro

Box Score Photo Gallery

Dons knock down 14 long-distance shots for 68-65 win

By: Paul Coro

LAS VEGAS — Grand Canyon was waiting for a run that could take control of the game Sunday, but that spurt wound up belonging to San Francisco.

In a tight, contrasting battle of USF's perimeter shooting against GCU's interior scoring, the Dons stayed true to their reliance on 3-point shots until they caught fire late and held off the Lopes for a 68-65 win in the Far West Classic at empty T-Mobile Arena.

USF stunned then-No. 4 Virginia earlier this season and has gone 6-4 against a tough schedule because it entered Sunday ranked eighth in the nation at 11.4 made 3-pointers per game. The Dons hit 14 of them Sunday, even though they were only 8 for 27 on 3s for the first 28 minutes before ending on a 6-for-10 tear that was the difference.

Neither team took command until USF went on a 13-3 run for a 59-50 lead with 5:48 to play. The Lopes inflicted their will for 40 points in the paint but they made one field goal during a critical five-minute stretch when the more experienced Dons took control.

"We gave up a few too many 3s in those last 10 minutes that really hurt us, but I'm really proud of the guys," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "We were in a position to take the lead late in this game and you've got to credit to San Francisco for a spectacular block and 3 that really shifted momentum for the rest of the game.

"Experience plays a big part. They have senior guards who have been in the same system for multiple years. Our guys are in a new system and only in their sixth game in that system. We were encouraged by a lot of things we saw, but obviously we need to get much better at our execution."

Jovan Blacksher Jr. uses an Alessandro Lever screen.

Jovan Blacksher Jr. uses an Alessandro Lever screen.

GCU senior center Asbjørn Midtgaard picked up his first career double-double with 18 points on 9-of-11 shooting to go with 10 rebounds and two blocked shots. The Lopes shot 49% from the field but only went 2 for 14 on 3s and 7 for 13 on free throws.

In the first half, GCU shot 61% from the field but trailed 30-28 at halftime because of nine turnovers, including four traveling calls. Midtgaard and senior power forward Alessandro Lever combined to make 11 of 14 first-half shots for 22 points as the Lopes tried to win the game in the paint and the post.

"It was two teams that play completely different and it was battle for who could get the tempo going their way," USF head coach and Phoenix native Todd Golden said. "I thought Grand Canyon did a wonderful job in the first half of not letting us get any transition and banging us inside. That was an advantage for them. But we wore them down. We started doubling them in the second half and got some 3s in transition that allowed us to separate and hold them off in the end."

GCU only led for 2:34 of the game but never let the Dons get far away. The Lopes made a 9-0 run to take a 39-38 lead on a Midtgaard post-up with 12:25 to go, but he did not take another shot until the final minute.

With GCU poised to take the lead on a breakaway with less than eight minutes to go, USF senior point guard Jamaree Bouyea blocked Lopes sophomore point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr.'s layup and hit a 3 at the other end.

Bouyea scored 12 of 15 USF points in that stretch, making another 3 for a 59-50 lead with 5:48 to go.

"It's our first time on the road and we haven't played together very often," Drew said. "Even with the early turnovers, we were able to overcome a lot to take a lead in the second half and have a shot to win the game."

GCU had been a dominant rebounding team for much of the early season to rank ninth nationally for rebound margin, but USF grabbed 11 offensive rebounds on Sunday and matched the Lopes in second-chance scoring.

"They were just quicker to the ball than us," Drew said. "That was one area we struggled with. A lot of times we were the same distance and they were just quicker."

Senior small forward Oscar Frayer was the only GCU player to connect from 3-point range, where the Lopes missed senior guard Mikey Dixon against a collapsing Dons defense. Dixon needed five stitches near his right eye, which remains partially closed from an accidental hit in practice. He is questionable for Tuesday's game against Colorado at T-Mobile Arena.

Frayer scored 14 points, making 2 of 5 from 3-point range while the other Lopes went 0 for 9.

The final score was tight, but GCU never had the ball with a chance to tie for the final seven minutes of the game. The Lopes missed seven straight shots in that stretch, including three 3-point shots on consecutive possessions as USF took its largest lead, 62-52, with 2:15 to go.

"We had to fight the fight, knowing they've done a wonderful job on the boards," Golden said. "Our guys battled hard and got 50-50 balls to give us a chance to win late.

"We're a little more seasoned but we're fatigued too. Grand Canyon looked super fresh. It's their first game away from home. They've been very comfortable so this was a big game for them. I thought they brought really good energy. They were really well-organized. Our senior guard and our redshirt junior guard made just enough plays down the stretch to get the win."