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 80, Chicago State 63
12/30/2021 6:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Lopes open conference play with Blacksher's 24 points
Grand Canyon begins this season right where it left off last season in the WAC — on top.
The defense of the Lopes' first WAC championship began Thursday night with GCU pulling away from Chicago State for an 80-63 at GCU Arena.
Lopes junior point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr. hit a career-high five 3-pointers and scored 24 points while making one turnover in 37 minutes of play. It was Blacksher and graduate reserve Walter Ellis who sparked GCU late in the first half with four consecutive 3-pointers during a 15-3 run.
GCU (11-2) used that to take a 42-34 halftime lead and got back to the defense that ranked 10th nationally entering the game. The Lopes held the Cougars to 37.9% shooting in the second half, as Blacksher did more damage with a 3-pointer and a no-look assist to a trailing Dima Zdor for a 55-38 lead with 13:50 remaining.
The Lopes stretched the lead to 20 when senior forward Taeshon Cherry scored seven consecutive points and kept Chicago State (4-10) from ever challenging again.
GCU was coming off a 12-day layoff and missed nine of its first 10 3-point shots, but then made 8 of 16 from long distance with Blacksher going 5 for 7 and Ellis going 2 for 3. With graduate guard Holland Woods II out because of COVID-19 protocols, sophomore Chance McMillian stepped in well for 35 solid minutes, including his defense on leading scorer Brandon Betson (2-for-11 shooting) and a line of eight points, four rebounds, three steals and a plus-35 rating.
The Lopes went to a three-guard lineup largely, balancing a high-low post game that helped junior power forward Gabe McGlothan score 17 points. Their bench bolstered the effort with that Cherry seven-point run, sophomore guard Jayden Stone's defense, Ellis' shooting and Zdor's best game of the season (10 points, six rebounds, two blocked shots).
Chicago State was ranked 26th nationally for offensive rebounding but the Lopes were the aggressor in that category, grabbing 18 for 17 second-chance points. Four GCU players (Yvan Ouedraogo, McGlothan, Blacksher and Zdor) grabbed at least six rebounds
Return to gculopes.com for Paul Coro's full game recap with comments from Bryce Drew and players.
The defense of the Lopes' first WAC championship began Thursday night with GCU pulling away from Chicago State for an 80-63 at GCU Arena.
Lopes junior point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr. hit a career-high five 3-pointers and scored 24 points while making one turnover in 37 minutes of play. It was Blacksher and graduate reserve Walter Ellis who sparked GCU late in the first half with four consecutive 3-pointers during a 15-3 run.
GCU (11-2) used that to take a 42-34 halftime lead and got back to the defense that ranked 10th nationally entering the game. The Lopes held the Cougars to 37.9% shooting in the second half, as Blacksher did more damage with a 3-pointer and a no-look assist to a trailing Dima Zdor for a 55-38 lead with 13:50 remaining.
The Lopes stretched the lead to 20 when senior forward Taeshon Cherry scored seven consecutive points and kept Chicago State (4-10) from ever challenging again.
GCU was coming off a 12-day layoff and missed nine of its first 10 3-point shots, but then made 8 of 16 from long distance with Blacksher going 5 for 7 and Ellis going 2 for 3. With graduate guard Holland Woods II out because of COVID-19 protocols, sophomore Chance McMillian stepped in well for 35 solid minutes, including his defense on leading scorer Brandon Betson (2-for-11 shooting) and a line of eight points, four rebounds, three steals and a plus-35 rating.
The Lopes went to a three-guard lineup largely, balancing a high-low post game that helped junior power forward Gabe McGlothan score 17 points. Their bench bolstered the effort with that Cherry seven-point run, sophomore guard Jayden Stone's defense, Ellis' shooting and Zdor's best game of the season (10 points, six rebounds, two blocked shots).
Chicago State was ranked 26th nationally for offensive rebounding but the Lopes were the aggressor in that category, grabbing 18 for 17 second-chance points. Four GCU players (Yvan Ouedraogo, McGlothan, Blacksher and Zdor) grabbed at least six rebounds
Return to gculopes.com for Paul Coro's full game recap with comments from Bryce Drew and players.
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