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 71, KC 66 (OT)
2/13/2020 7:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
Blacksher records 2nd double-double
After winning a shootout Saturday with its greatest scoring output of its Division I era, Grand Canyon was embroiled in a tight grinder Thursday and defeated Kansas City 71-66 in overtime at GCU Arena.
The Lopes (11-13, 6-4 WAC) remained in position for the WAC Tournament No. 2 seed by winning for the sixth time in the past eight games. After scoring 103 points on Saturday, GCU trailed 32-26 at halftime Thursday before using the Roos' physical, aggressive defense against them. For the game, GCU outscored Kansas City 28-3 at the free throw line but needed an extra five minutes to close out the Roos with clutch overtime 3-pointers from freshman point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr. and junior guard Isiah Brown.
Blacksher played his finest game as a Lope, recording his second double-double with team highs for points (17), rebounds (12) and assists (five) while making only one turnover. Senior swingman Carlos Johnson, who scored 16 points, shook of missing a potential game-wininng layup in regulation by making the go-ahead free throws in overtime when he fouled out Kansas City guard Brandon McKissic.
That put GCU ahead 65-64 with 3:04 remaining in overtime and Blacksher's 3 stretched the lead to 68-64 before senior power forward Lorenzo Jenkins made a key blocked shot. After the Roos cut the lead to 68-66, junior center Alessandro Lever passed out of the post to set up Brown for a 3 that gave GCU a 71-66 lead with 26 seconds remaining.
Lever led the Lopes with 18 points and added eight rebounds. Four GCU players scored in double figures and held Kansas City to 5-for-23 shooting from 3-point range.
The Lopes opened the game like they were going to carry over the record-breaking offensive performance at California Baptist. GCU made five of its first six shots, including a pair of 3-pointers but Kansas City's physical defense began to disrupt the Lopes. For the final 14 minutes of the first half, GCU made 3 of 14 shots and committed six turnovers to allow the Roos to take the lead with six minutes to go in the half and have a 32-26 advantage at halftime.
Lopes freshman point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr. led the offense in the first half, scoring 10 of the 26 points while also grabbing four rebounds. Meanwhile, Kansas City shot 51.9% from the field with only three turnovers in the first half because 20 of their 32 points came in the paint.
GCU played its best defense in the early part of the second half and capitalized offensively with a parade to the free throw line. The Lopes outscored the Roos 20-6 over a stretch of 7:19 to lead 48-42 with 11 minutes remaining in the game. Eight of those points came on free throws by senior power forward Lorenzo Jenkins, who went 10 for 10 at the line in the game.
Kansas City took a 59-53 lead with 2:28 remaining in regulation when the Lopes closed with an 8-2 run to send the game to overtime. In continuance with the theme of drawing fouls. GCU's run began with six consecutive free throws before Jenkins made a jump shot off junior guard Mikey Dixon's assist to tie the score with 38 seconds to go in regulation. After Kansas City missed, Johnson had a chance to win the game for GCU when Blacksher drove baseline, drew two defenders and fed Johnson for a layup but it missed with one second remaining. Johnson stole a long Roos inbound to send the game to overtime.
The Lopes stay home Saturday to play Chicago State in a 6 p.m. game
Return to gculopes.com for Paul Coro 's full game recap with comments from Dan Majerle and players.
The Lopes (11-13, 6-4 WAC) remained in position for the WAC Tournament No. 2 seed by winning for the sixth time in the past eight games. After scoring 103 points on Saturday, GCU trailed 32-26 at halftime Thursday before using the Roos' physical, aggressive defense against them. For the game, GCU outscored Kansas City 28-3 at the free throw line but needed an extra five minutes to close out the Roos with clutch overtime 3-pointers from freshman point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr. and junior guard Isiah Brown.
Blacksher played his finest game as a Lope, recording his second double-double with team highs for points (17), rebounds (12) and assists (five) while making only one turnover. Senior swingman Carlos Johnson, who scored 16 points, shook of missing a potential game-wininng layup in regulation by making the go-ahead free throws in overtime when he fouled out Kansas City guard Brandon McKissic.
That put GCU ahead 65-64 with 3:04 remaining in overtime and Blacksher's 3 stretched the lead to 68-64 before senior power forward Lorenzo Jenkins made a key blocked shot. After the Roos cut the lead to 68-66, junior center Alessandro Lever passed out of the post to set up Brown for a 3 that gave GCU a 71-66 lead with 26 seconds remaining.
Lever led the Lopes with 18 points and added eight rebounds. Four GCU players scored in double figures and held Kansas City to 5-for-23 shooting from 3-point range.
The Lopes opened the game like they were going to carry over the record-breaking offensive performance at California Baptist. GCU made five of its first six shots, including a pair of 3-pointers but Kansas City's physical defense began to disrupt the Lopes. For the final 14 minutes of the first half, GCU made 3 of 14 shots and committed six turnovers to allow the Roos to take the lead with six minutes to go in the half and have a 32-26 advantage at halftime.
Lopes freshman point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr. led the offense in the first half, scoring 10 of the 26 points while also grabbing four rebounds. Meanwhile, Kansas City shot 51.9% from the field with only three turnovers in the first half because 20 of their 32 points came in the paint.
GCU played its best defense in the early part of the second half and capitalized offensively with a parade to the free throw line. The Lopes outscored the Roos 20-6 over a stretch of 7:19 to lead 48-42 with 11 minutes remaining in the game. Eight of those points came on free throws by senior power forward Lorenzo Jenkins, who went 10 for 10 at the line in the game.
Kansas City took a 59-53 lead with 2:28 remaining in regulation when the Lopes closed with an 8-2 run to send the game to overtime. In continuance with the theme of drawing fouls. GCU's run began with six consecutive free throws before Jenkins made a jump shot off junior guard Mikey Dixon's assist to tie the score with 38 seconds to go in regulation. After Kansas City missed, Johnson had a chance to win the game for GCU when Blacksher drove baseline, drew two defenders and fed Johnson for a layup but it missed with one second remaining. Johnson stole a long Roos inbound to send the game to overtime.
The Lopes stay home Saturday to play Chicago State in a 6 p.m. game
Return to gculopes.com for Paul Coro 's full game recap with comments from Dan Majerle and players.
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