Lopes win post-Christmas tune-up

Wednesday, December 27

Glendale, Ariz. / Luke Air Force Base

1 p.m.

Grand Canyon

11-1,2-0WAC

124

Bethesda (Calif.)

0-9

Grand Canyon

124

Bethesda (CA)

12/27/2023 5:17:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

GCU defeats Bethesda in front of military personnel at Luke Air Force Base

By: Josh Hauser

LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. — Grand Canyon defeated Bethesda 124-74 in a post-Christmas tune-up game held at Luke Air Force Base on Wednesday.

GCU improved its record to 11-1 to continue its best start to a Division I season and since 1996, shaking off the rust from a week away for Christmas with another matchup looming on Saturday night against Louisiana Tech. The Lopes have won eight consecutive games, their longest win streak since the 2020-21 season.

The Lopes rested their top three scorers in senior guard Tyon Grant-Foster, junior guard Ray Harrison and senior forward Gabe McGlothan.

"We had the one game (open to add to the schedule)," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "We were looking to see when Josh Baker and Jovan Blacksher Jr. were going to be ready to play (coming off of injuries) because we wanted to get an extra game in for them to really be able to get minutes and play. That was the main centerpiece that we tried to center it around. Then we wanted to be able to get some of our guys that haven't had a chance to play a lot of minutes to get out and play. Really pleased."

Blacksher (20 points) and Baker (11 points) each saw more than 20 minutes of action and were two of GCU's eight double-figure scorers. Blacksher made 4 of 6 shots from 3-point range, scored 17 first-half points and dished out seven assists while Baker came close to a triple-dobule by setting career highs for assists (nine) and steals (four) while matching a career high for rebounds (seven).

Joining Blacksher and Baker in double figures were senior Lök Wur (15), redshirt freshman Isaiah Shaw (13), redshirt freshman Derrick Michael Xzavierro (12), freshman Noah Amenhauser (12), junior Collin Moore (10) and sophomore Duke Brennan (10). New career scoring highs were set by Xzavierro, Wur, redshirt freshman Malcolm Flaggs, freshman Marquese Josephs, Amenhauser and a 13-point career best was matched by Shaw.

Xzavierro, Indonesia's first D-I scholarship player, also recorded his first career double-double with a career-best 11 rebounds.

"It was a great opportunity for everyone to get back into playing shape after the break," said Wur, who added a career high for rebounds (nine). "It was also a good way for us to get game-ready for the 30th (vs. Louisiana Tech)."

While the Lopes eventually cruised to a 50-point victory and set their D-I record for points in a game, GCU's lead did not become comfortable until the last 10 minutes of the first half. The Lopes led 27-26 with under 10 minutes until halftime, when a media timeout started a GCU 40-9 run.

"They said it to themselves," Drew said. "They knew we weren't playing any defense. They (Bethesda) were making shots. We weren't playing as good of defense as we're capable. We talked about how our defense should create our offense. They did a good job at that point letting our defense create transition."

GCU spurred the turnaround with aggressive perimeter defense that created turnovers and netted 30 points off turnovers for the game.

"Coach was emphasizing just for us to get back to our defensive principles and not give up easy baskets," Wur said. "The first game in a few days, it was hard to get our legs right away. Once we had that talk with Coach, we made the adjustment."

The Lopes host Louisiana Tech (9-4) on Saturday at 6 p.m. in the nonconference finale at Global Credit Union Arena.