Luke AFB gets look at Lopes vs. Bethesda

Wednesday, Dec. 27 \| 1 p.m. \| Luke Air Force Base \| Glendale, Ariz.

	BETHESDA FLAMES	vs.	GRAND CANYON LOPES

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With Grand Canyon holding one of the nation's best records at 10-1, the Lopes aim high and are taking their game to the place that embodies "Aim High" — Luke Air Force Base.
Phoenix, AZ Dec. 2, 2023: GCU gets a come from behind 76-69 win over UT Arlington at GCU Arena. Photo David Kadlubowski/GCU

Phoenix, AZ Dec. 2, 2023: GCU gets a come from behind 76-69 win over UT Arlington at GCU Arena. Photo David Kadlubowski/GCU

GCU used the room on its schedule to add a Wednesday game in front of a military-only audience at Luke, which sits just 15 miles west of campus. The Lopes will tip off at 1 p.m.in the base's Bryant Fitness Center against Bethesda (Calif.), which is part of the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association.

"We had one game to schedule still," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "We were holding it and looking and waiting and trying to get some dates in. It worked out. We've been wanting to get to the air force base for a while. We get to get to the air force base and play a 1 o'clock game on the base for the troops and the people there. We're really looking forward to it."

GCU's starters and three reserves have played every game this season, but this game will allow the Lopes to get graduate point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr. more time since his Dec. 16 return to action. Coming off knee surgery rehabilitation, Blacksher played 30 minutes combined in two appearances.

Senior guard Josh Baker has played in nine of 11 games but only returned to practicing with the team in early November after recovering from shoulder surgery.

Redshirt freshmen Malcolm Flaggs, out recently with an eye infection, and Derrick Michael Xzavierro and freshman Noah Amenhauser and Marquese Josephs each have played 11 or fewer minutes this season.

Grand Canyon has a history of competing against Luke Air Force Base teams, but the basketball team has not played at Luke since then-head coach Ben Lindsey took the 1960-61 team there almost 63 years ago.

The Lopes have not played since last Wednesday, when they defeated Sam Houston 76-64 for a seven-game winning streak, which is tied for the eighth-longest active streak in the nation. GCU is one of 16 teams in the nation that has won at least 90% of its games this season.

The game will help transition the Lopes to their final nonconference game on Saturday, when Louisiana Tech visits Global Credit Union Arena for its first game since Dec. 20. The Bulldogs were 9-2 and approaching being in the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) top 40 until losing two heartbreakers on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer at Saint Louis and in overtime at Seattle U.

"We have time to let the guys get away and refresh their minds and come back hopefully fresh after," Drew said.

Lope tracks

GCU graduate Gabe McGlothan is tied for 13th among active Division I players for career rebounds (890).
The Lopes' seven-game winning streak is their longest since winning nine in a row two seasons ago (Jan. 8-Feb. 19, 2021).
GCU junior guard Ray Harrison and senior guard Tyon Grant-Foster are the only teammates in the nation to each have three games of at least nine free throws made besides the Maryland duo of Julian Reese and Jahmir Young.
Grant-Foster ranks 13th nationally for points per game at 20.9.
Lopes sophomore center Duke Brennan is shooting 64.7% from the field, which would rank in the national top 20 if he qualified. Brennan makes three field goals per game. Qualifiers must have five field goals made per game.
GCU received three voting points for this week's Associated Press Top 25 and seven points for the USA Today Coaches Top 25 Poll.

Wednesday, Dec. 27 | 1 p.m. | Luke Air Force Base | Glendale, Ariz.

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Players Mentioned

Noah Amenhauser

Josh Baker

Jovan Blacksher Jr.

Malcolm Flaggs

Tyon Grant-Foster

Ray Harrison

Marquese Josephs

Gabe McGlothan

Derrick Michael Xzavierro

Grand Canyon University Athletics