Completed Event: Men's Basketball at Wyoming on December 20, 2025 , Win , 82, to, 70
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at Wyoming
W 82-70
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Midtgaard takes national FG% lead, WAC award
1/11/2021 12:40:00 PM | Men's Basketball
GCU senior center wins 2nd WAC Player of the Week honor
The season is obviously going well for Grand Canyon center Asbjørn Midtgaard when a 12-for-17 shooting weekend brings down his season shooting percentage.
Midtgaard's work at Tarleton helped GCU to two WAC-opening victories, but the performances also made him the national leader for field goal percentage (73.1%) and a WAC Player of the Week winner for a second time.
The 7-foot, 260-pound center from Denmark averaged 18.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in the Lopes' wins at Tarleton.
"We just executed our offense," Midtgaard said. "When we execute our offense, I think we can get a lot of open shots and great shots. Instead of trying to create our own, we can rely on each other and trust each other."
Midtgaard has tripled his playing time for GCU (6-3) in comparison to his first three seasons at Wichita State, but his production has increased even more. After averaging 2.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.6 blocked shots per game at Wichita State, Midtgaard is averaging 15.0 points, 9.9 rebounds (25th best in the nation) and 1.3 blocks in 28.6 minutes per game. That shooting clip of 73.1% is a spike from a previously solid 58.6%.
With double-digit scoring in five consecutive games, Midtgaard has posted his career's seven highest-scoring games in the Lopes' nine games this season.
Midtgaard also fortified a GCU defense that held Tarleton to 37.8% shooting in the two games. He set a career high and a GCU Division I-era record with five blocked shots in Saturday's win.
"I try to be the anchor down there and yell at people where to go and when to go," Midtgaard said. "When they finally do drive, I've got to protect the rim. I'm just trying to protect the rim and win the game."
Midtgaard also won a WAC Player of the Week award two weeks ago, combining with sophomore point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr. to give GCU three of the WAC's six weekly honorees thus far.
Midtgaard's work at Tarleton helped GCU to two WAC-opening victories, but the performances also made him the national leader for field goal percentage (73.1%) and a WAC Player of the Week winner for a second time.
The 7-foot, 260-pound center from Denmark averaged 18.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in the Lopes' wins at Tarleton.
"We just executed our offense," Midtgaard said. "When we execute our offense, I think we can get a lot of open shots and great shots. Instead of trying to create our own, we can rely on each other and trust each other."
Midtgaard has tripled his playing time for GCU (6-3) in comparison to his first three seasons at Wichita State, but his production has increased even more. After averaging 2.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.6 blocked shots per game at Wichita State, Midtgaard is averaging 15.0 points, 9.9 rebounds (25th best in the nation) and 1.3 blocks in 28.6 minutes per game. That shooting clip of 73.1% is a spike from a previously solid 58.6%.
With double-digit scoring in five consecutive games, Midtgaard has posted his career's seven highest-scoring games in the Lopes' nine games this season.
Midtgaard also fortified a GCU defense that held Tarleton to 37.8% shooting in the two games. He set a career high and a GCU Division I-era record with five blocked shots in Saturday's win.
"I try to be the anchor down there and yell at people where to go and when to go," Midtgaard said. "When they finally do drive, I've got to protect the rim. I'm just trying to protect the rim and win the game."
Midtgaard also won a WAC Player of the Week award two weeks ago, combining with sophomore point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr. to give GCU three of the WAC's six weekly honorees thus far.
Players Mentioned
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