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
WAC rules on forfeit impact as NMSU ends season
2/13/2023 4:31:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro, Lopes Insider Blog
Aggies' program suspension pulls GCU within .12 of Southern Utah in seeding system
Grand Canyon drew closer to the conference's important top four spots with a WAC ruling that decided on the impact of New Mexico State canceling its remaining six games.
After beating New Mexico State in the Aggies' final game of the season last week, the Lopes received a forfeited conference victory for next week's scheduled game against the Aggies in Las Cruces. The game will not count toward GCU's overall victory total by NCAA rule, but the Lopes receive the conference victory's points in the WAC Resume Seeding System.
Although GCU's game against the Aggies was scheduled to be played on the road, the conference is awarding seeding points for the forfeit commensurate with that of a home victory against the Aggies (currently 0.32), fewer points than a road victory against the Aggies.
GCU (2.52 points) pulled closer to fourth-place Southern Utah (2.64) with the conference decision that gives forfeiture wins for each of New Mexico State's remaining six games. That allows for each conference team to still have 18 results in the WAC Resume Seeding System, which uses full-season metrics to determine WAC Tournament seeding. The top four seeds will receive a WAC Tournament first-round bye.
New Mexico State announced the cancellation of the remainder of its season and suspension of its coaching staff this weekend because of hazing allegations involving student-athletes on the basketball team.
The Lopes play their next three games at home, where they are 12-2 this season, with UT Rio Grande Valley at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Abilene Christian at 9 p.m. Friday on ESPNU. The Lopes get a chance to catch third-place Seattle U with a rematch on Feb. 24 at GCU Arena before facing fourth-place Southern Utah for the first time this season on March 1 in Cedar City, Utah. The Lopes' regular-season finale is at Utah Tech on March 3.
The WAC Resume Seeding System will determine seeding for the 12-team WAC Tournament. The top four seeds receive first-round byes.
After beating New Mexico State in the Aggies' final game of the season last week, the Lopes received a forfeited conference victory for next week's scheduled game against the Aggies in Las Cruces. The game will not count toward GCU's overall victory total by NCAA rule, but the Lopes receive the conference victory's points in the WAC Resume Seeding System.Although GCU's game against the Aggies was scheduled to be played on the road, the conference is awarding seeding points for the forfeit commensurate with that of a home victory against the Aggies (currently 0.32), fewer points than a road victory against the Aggies.
GCU (2.52 points) pulled closer to fourth-place Southern Utah (2.64) with the conference decision that gives forfeiture wins for each of New Mexico State's remaining six games. That allows for each conference team to still have 18 results in the WAC Resume Seeding System, which uses full-season metrics to determine WAC Tournament seeding. The top four seeds will receive a WAC Tournament first-round bye.
New Mexico State announced the cancellation of the remainder of its season and suspension of its coaching staff this weekend because of hazing allegations involving student-athletes on the basketball team.
"While there is no perfect solution to this unfortunate situation, I believe we landed in the right place," WAC Commissioner Brian Thornton said. "I applaud our athletic directors for working collaboratively with our staff to reach this decision.
"We are in the midst of the best statistical season in the WAC's history, and we wanted to create the most equitable solution that did not unfairly advantage or disadvantage institutions that lost opportunities to improve their standing. Ultimately, every institution will maintain the ability to control their destiny based on the results of their remaining conference contests."
With five remaining regular-season games, GCU (16-9, 8-5 WAC) has a chance to control its pursuit of a top-four seed at the March 6-11 WAC Tournament in Las Vegas.The Lopes play their next three games at home, where they are 12-2 this season, with UT Rio Grande Valley at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Abilene Christian at 9 p.m. Friday on ESPNU. The Lopes get a chance to catch third-place Seattle U with a rematch on Feb. 24 at GCU Arena before facing fourth-place Southern Utah for the first time this season on March 1 in Cedar City, Utah. The Lopes' regular-season finale is at Utah Tech on March 3.
WAC Resume Seeding System (updated Feb. 13) |
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| Rank | Team | Record (WAC only) | WAC points |
| 1. | Utah Valley | 20-6 (11-2) | 5.55 |
| 2. | Sam Houston | 18-6 (8-4) | 4.55 |
| 3. | Seattle U | 18-8 (9-4) | 3.34 |
| 4. | Southern Utah | 17-9 (9-4) | 2.64 |
| 5. | GCU | 16-9 (8-5) | 2.52 |
| 6. | Stephen F. Austin | 16-9 (8-4) | 1.44 |
| 7. | Tarleton | 14-12 (8-6) | 0.47 |
| 8. | Abilene Christian | 13-12 (7-7) | -1.21 |
| 9. | California Baptist | 14-12 (6-7) | -1.74 |
| 10. | Utah Tech | 11-15 (3-10) | -2.94 |
| 11. | UT Rio Grande Valley | 12-14 (4-10 | -3.20 |
| 12. | UT Arlington | 9-16 (4-8) | -4.79 |
| 13. | New Mexico State | Disqualified | |
The WAC Resume Seeding System will determine seeding for the 12-team WAC Tournament. The top four seeds receive first-round byes.
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