Rare losses hurt by unusually cold shooting

Saturday, December 11

Phoenix, Ariz.

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Ottawa (Ariz.)

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12/10/2021 3:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro

GCU Notes OUAZ Notes

GCU shoots 46.3% in 8 wins, 30.7% in 2 losses this season

By: Paul Coro

Saturday, Dec. 11 \| 6 p.m. (Phoenix time) \| GCU Arena

	OTTAWA (Ariz.) SPIRIT (7-4)	at	GRAND CANYON LOPES (8-2)

WATCH: FOX 10 Xtra (Ch. 45 / Cable 9), ESPN+ \| LISTEN: 1580 The Fanatic \| STATS: View

There often is a dividing line between wins and losses in statistics.

For Grand Canyon, there is a chasm between how the Lopes shoot in wins and losses.

The defeats have been rare in an 8-2 season that continues with a 6 p.m. Saturday home game against West Valley neighbor Ottawa. But also definitive, with the 31.5% shooting in Thursday's five-point loss at Arizona State only being better than the 29.7% shooting in a home loss to Wyoming.

If either is any better, the Lopes had a chance to pull both games in crunch time. They have been far better in wins, shooting 46.3% from the field in those eight games.

Emotions played into Thursday's offense, but so did decision-making with getting blocked 13 times around the rim by a long ASU front line and the lack of 3-point shooting to keep the Sun Devils honest.

"We have less than 48 hours to get refocused," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "We've got to get better at some things that we saw out there (at ASU). We need to be able to take a step forward with some of our execution and also some of our focus. Especially starting games, we've got to be much better."

In nine minutes, ASU shot ahead of GCU 16-5, a margin that proved costly in a tight loss.

Offensive struggles are usually the culprit while defense continues to keep GCU in games. The Lopes opened its previous games 3 for 17 from the field vs. UT San Antonio and 1 for 10 vs. Mississippi Valley State game before going 2 for 16 from the tip at ASU.

GCU guards Jovan Blacksher Jr. and Holland Woods II have been consistent scorers and accurate shooters with each connecting on at least 40% of 3-pointers.

Blacksher's offensive reliability is better than ever with 14 consecutive double-digit scoring games after never having a streak of more than six previously.

The Lopes' third-best scorer, junior power forward Gabe McGlothan, gave a gutty effort Thursday night to play after being ill and losing 12 pounds during the week. He scored 11 consecutive points late in the game for another GCU comeback attempt that fell short.

That trio accounts for 55% of the Lopes' offense, as GCU looks for another consistent scorer to make its offensive rebounding (No. 3 nationally at 15.8 per game) and defense (No. 26 nationally for 37.8% opponent shooting) count for more wins.

Thursday night's game at ASU was emblematic of how close GCU is to a breakthrough. In situations when it could tie the game, the Lopes missed three shots and made two turnovers.

"It was back and forth, and we made a run with a chance to take a lead, and unfortunately we couldn't make that play to get us over the hump to be able to get that lead in the second half," Drew said.