GCU puts on exhibition to rout with new look

Friday, October 28

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Eastern New Mexico

Eastern N.M.

Grand Canyon

10/28/2022 8:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro

Box Score Photo Gallery

Lopes lock down Greyhounds to 33% shooting, show off backcourt strength

By: Paul Coro

It was Costume Night for the first look at Grand Canyon basketball and the Lopes showed up in their usual disguise as friendly hosts.

The GCU Arena environment was in regular-season mode Friday night for the exhibition game, and the Lopes turned not-so-hospitable in cruising to a 71-43 victory against Eastern New Mexico despite 20 turnovers.

The Lopes rolled with backcourt newcomer Ray Harrison, a sophomore transfer from Presbyterian, scoring 12 and junior point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr. adding 14 points in less than 22 minutes of playing time for each. GCU's defense, often in place first, held the Greyhounds to 33% shooting from the field to make up for the turnovers and cool 3-point shooting.

The anxiousness of GCU players, new and old, to play in front of a sellout crowd was apparent in 13 first-half turnovers, which came as a mash-up of missed alleyoops, dropped passes and offensive fouls. But because the defensive culture has been embedded, the Lopes broke away late in the first half for a 34-20 halftime lead and kept the margin in double digits for the remainder of the game.

Phoenix, AZ Oct. 28,, 2022: GCU tops Eastern New Mexico 71-43 at GCU Arena.

Phoenix, AZ Oct. 28,, 2022: GCU tops Eastern New Mexico 71-43 at GCU Arena.

"That type of feeling is just something you have to experience," said Harrison, who added three assists, three rebounds and a steal in 21 minutes. "It definitely didn't disappoint. It was good. As a whole, we all had jitters. This was a good icebreaker for us to get things under control and sharpen up for Nov. 7 (against Big Sky champion Montana State)."

The Lopes flexed their backcourt depth with sophomore guard Chance McMillian and junior Josh Baker, a Phoenix-born transfer from UNLV, coming off the bench strongly. McMillian went to the bench early with two offensive fouls but came back well and shared the rebounding lead (eight) with junior power forward Yvan Ouedraogo while adding seven points and a team-high three steals. The Lopes won the boards, 45-23.

All four GCU guards showed they can be scorers or playmakers and the Lopes' use of three-guard lineups sped up play against a switching defense that they rarely see.

"We're trying to open up the offense and give them some opportunities to attack," Drew said. "They (the Greyhounds) did a great job of switching. A great job of getting in gaps. Our guys would drive and they waited a little bit long to make the pass that they should have made. By the time they made it, the defense collapsed and had two hands on the ball. This will definitely help us get better."

Phoenix, AZ Oct. 28,, 2022: GCU tops Eastern New Mexico 71-43 at GCU Arena.

It was a 21-15 GCU lead until the Lopes rattled off nine unanswered points with Ouedraogo's three-point play igniting a festive crowd of 7,319 fans. The Lopes had a slow start to the second half before junior power forward Gabe McGlothan's reverse drive jump-started the offense before Blacksher, Baker and McMillian made consecutive 3-pointers for a 45-26 lead.

"We didn't move the ball great in the first half," GCU head coach Bryce Drew. "In the second half, our ball movement was better. We took care of it better with 10 assists and seven turnovers. It's going to be a process for the blending.

"This is really Ray's and Jovan's first time playing together in front of a crowd, and Josh Baker coming in. We have guys, when once we get more comfortable playing witch each other, I think the ball is going to pop more and our offense is going to look a lot smoother."

Phoenix, AZ Oct. 28,, 2022: GCU tops Eastern New Mexico 71-43 at GCU Arena.

The Lopes stretched the lead with junior center Aidan Igiehon contributing on a post-up slam and follow slam that were part of his nine points, five rebounds and four fouls in 11 minutes.

"I'm really pleased for Aidan," Drew said. "He definitely showed strides. We liked him being able to rebound and he made some nice moves offensively. Yvan's much improved and Aidan is much improved. Hopefully, they'll show that improvement through this year."

Igiehon, whose 6-foot-10, 250-pound physique lives up to the "Irish Hulk" nickname, transferred from Louisville last year and missed offseason work because of hip surgery. He averaged 2.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in 8.7 minutes per game last season.

"It felt great," Igiehon said. "I put in a lot of work this summer. You just saw a little bit of it. I wished I could've showed more. I've got awesome teammates that find me with the ball. Right now, we're still learning how to play with each other a little smoother. But down through the year, it's going to be fun.

"We didn't even play close to how we know we can play. Coach Drew spends hours and hours with defense, and it's something we're going to be able to hang our hat on. As games go on, we can turn it up a notch."

GCU did not shoot as well as it expects from 3-point range, going 7 for 27, but the Lopes will not have many nights when noted shooters like Harrison and junior forward Noah Baumann, a Phoenix native who transferred from Georgia, miss all nine of their shots from long distance. Blacksher went 3 for 4 beyond the arc and Baker hit 2 of 5 on a quality night of 10 points and four assists in 18 minutes.

"I like our looks," Drew said. "I'll take those looks all day that our guys were getting. It's going to be a fun night when we go 14 for 27 instead of 7 for 27. And we're capable. We're a much better shooting team than we showed tonight."

The Lopes have 10 days to prepare for their regular-season opener against Big Sky champion Montana State, which is predicted to win its conference again after going 27-8 last season.