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Grand Canyon University Athletics
GCU to host ASU in December
6/12/2020 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Lopes, Sun Devils begin series that moves to Tempe in 2021-22
Editor's note: The first game of this series has been canceled after the Pac-12 decided to delay all sports competition to 2021.
Grand Canyon and Arizona State will begin a highly anticipated home-and-home men's basketball series with the Sun Devils slated to visit GCU Arena in the upcoming season.
The clash between Valley of the Sun neighbors is scheduled to take place on Sunday, Dec. 13, at 4 p.m. at GCU Arena. In return, the Lopes will pay a visit to Desert Financial Arena in Tempe in the 2021-22 season.
"We are thrilled for the opportunity to play a series with Arizona State," first-year Lopes head coach Bryce Drew said. "(ASU head coach) Bobby Hurley has built one of the better programs in the country, and this will be a series that the Phoenix area will be very excited for."
GCU and ASU never have met at the Division I level, but the teams did take to the court for exhibition action on Nov. 5, 2011, to mark the opening of GCU Arena. The lone official meeting between the programs took place 40 years ago with the D-I Devils claiming an 80-68 win over the NAIA Lopes in Tempe.
"Congratulations to Coach Drew and to Coach Hurley for getting this set up," GCU President Brian Mueller said. "This is going to be a great event for the two universities, their students, alumni and fan bases. It will be a fantastic way to showcase college basketball in the Valley."
Arizona State went 20-11 last season and posted an 11-7 mark in Pac-12 play, good for a third-place tie in the regular-season standings. The Sun Devils hung their hats on an aggressive defense that ranked 19th nationally in turnovers forced and were on course for a third consecutive NCAA tournament appearance.
"We look forward to starting a series with Grand Canyon at GCU this season," Hurley said. "Bryce Drew and his family are well known in the college basketball world, and as we welcome him to the Valley, it made sense to have an efficient home-and-home with his program."
With the matchup finalized, the Lopes will have faced every in-state opponent at the D-I level since transitioning seven years ago. GCU played at Arizona (2016) and faced Northern Arizona home (2015) and away (2013).
"This is a great opportunity for two local programs with history of success in collegiate basketball to finally meet on the court," Arizona State President Michael Crow said. "We hope it is the beginning of a new spirited rivalry between universities who have long contributed to the culture of the Valley, now in a new and entertaining way."
Drew was named GCU's head coach on March 17 and will lead a new-look Lopes squad. The Lopes return the likes of two-time All-WAC honoree Alessandro Lever and reigning WAC Freshman of the Year Jovan Blacksher Jr. to a roster that is bolstered by the addition of seven newcomers.
Grand Canyon and Arizona State will begin a highly anticipated home-and-home men's basketball series with the Sun Devils slated to visit GCU Arena in the upcoming season.
The clash between Valley of the Sun neighbors is scheduled to take place on Sunday, Dec. 13, at 4 p.m. at GCU Arena. In return, the Lopes will pay a visit to Desert Financial Arena in Tempe in the 2021-22 season.
"We are thrilled for the opportunity to play a series with Arizona State," first-year Lopes head coach Bryce Drew said. "(ASU head coach) Bobby Hurley has built one of the better programs in the country, and this will be a series that the Phoenix area will be very excited for."
GCU and ASU never have met at the Division I level, but the teams did take to the court for exhibition action on Nov. 5, 2011, to mark the opening of GCU Arena. The lone official meeting between the programs took place 40 years ago with the D-I Devils claiming an 80-68 win over the NAIA Lopes in Tempe.
"Congratulations to Coach Drew and to Coach Hurley for getting this set up," GCU President Brian Mueller said. "This is going to be a great event for the two universities, their students, alumni and fan bases. It will be a fantastic way to showcase college basketball in the Valley."
Arizona State went 20-11 last season and posted an 11-7 mark in Pac-12 play, good for a third-place tie in the regular-season standings. The Sun Devils hung their hats on an aggressive defense that ranked 19th nationally in turnovers forced and were on course for a third consecutive NCAA tournament appearance.
"We look forward to starting a series with Grand Canyon at GCU this season," Hurley said. "Bryce Drew and his family are well known in the college basketball world, and as we welcome him to the Valley, it made sense to have an efficient home-and-home with his program."
With the matchup finalized, the Lopes will have faced every in-state opponent at the D-I level since transitioning seven years ago. GCU played at Arizona (2016) and faced Northern Arizona home (2015) and away (2013).
"This is a great opportunity for two local programs with history of success in collegiate basketball to finally meet on the court," Arizona State President Michael Crow said. "We hope it is the beginning of a new spirited rivalry between universities who have long contributed to the culture of the Valley, now in a new and entertaining way."
Drew was named GCU's head coach on March 17 and will lead a new-look Lopes squad. The Lopes return the likes of two-time All-WAC honoree Alessandro Lever and reigning WAC Freshman of the Year Jovan Blacksher Jr. to a roster that is bolstered by the addition of seven newcomers.
The wait is over.
— GCU Men's Basketball (@GCU_MBB) June 12, 2020
📝 https://t.co/JMRdofAJm9 pic.twitter.com/FmgKeCky6a
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