Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball at Baylor on October 10, 2025 at 2 p.m. (MST)
M Basketball
2 p.m. (MST)
at Baylor
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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Saturday, February 4
Phoenix, Ariz.
6 p.m.
Grand Canyon
15-8,6-4WAC
86
vs
83
Stephen F. Austin
15-9,7-4WAC
1
2
F
SFA
37
46
83
Grand Canyon
41
45
86
Tough test brings out Lopes' edge in key win
2/4/2023 9:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
GCU notches payback win against SFA to be 11-2 at home
The work to win Saturday night's game came early for Grand Canyon.
Earlier than when Lopes sophomore guard Chance McMillian scored or assisted on every point of a 17-7 start against Stephen F. Austin. Earlier than a week of intense practices that included five-on-six offense.
The preliminary work went way back to Jan. 7 when the Lopes' motives were based in a close loss at Stephen F. Austin in their first game after Jovan Blacksher Jr.'s season-ending injury. Payback came in the form of the new GCU backcourt pairing of sophomore guard Ray Harrison with McMillian combining for 52 points and 10 assists in an 86-83 home victory against the Lumberjacks.
McMillian made 6 of 7 shots from 3-point range to obliterate his career high of 17 with a 24-point night while Harrison's steady scoring piled up 28 points in his 17th consecutive double-digit scoring game.
GCU (15-8, 6-4 WAC) only trailed for 36 seconds but had to withstand constant SFA threats for a toughness test that the Lopes passed to move to 11-2 at home.
"Our team was more connected to fight that," said Lopes junior power forward Gabe McGlothan, who paired nine points with a team-high 12 rebounds to help GCU outscore SFA by 12 in his 30 minutes. "In the past, we've continued to lapse sometimes and have to battle from behind. A growth this team is making is with our focus and maturity."
Facing the perimeter pressure of the No. 1 turnover-creating team in the nation, the Lopes cut their turnovers from 10 in the first half to five in the second half to wind up four below Lumberjacks opponents' season average. The improved ball care also limited the easy points that SFA survived upon Saturday, when its last lead was wiped away with a critical 12-2 run that included two Lumberjacks technical fouls.
When SFA (15-9, 7-4 WAC) was within a possession for the final time before the buzzer, McMillian made his sixth 3 for a 70-64 lead with 4:03 to go.
"We just needed to find something to create energy off and I felt like, 'Why not me?' " McMillian said. "I feel like if I bring energy, the team will feed off that and that's what happened tonight."
McMillian came to GCU Basketball Facility at 11 p.m. Friday night for a 90-minute shooting session designed by director of operations Peyton Prudhomme.
After throwing an alleyoop to junior power forward Gabe McGlothan on the game's opening play McMillian hit a 3 on the next play and assisted on Harrison's 3 on the third play to put GCU in early control.
"We had a guy who was just sensational – Chance McMillian," said Lopes head coach Bryce Drew, who entrusted McMillian with running the offense more. "Earlier in the season, he couldn't have played in a game like this with that type of pressure and had the ball in his hand. It just shows the improvement and the focus he's had locking in. It was really just fun to watch."
GCU trailed twice in the game. Once in each half, the Lopes wiped the Lumberjacks lead away on the next play and did not let SFA get it back.
With the Lumberjacks fouling 27 times, GCU made 23 of 30 free throws (77%) with Harrison going 11 for 13, matching his free throw season high when he went 11 for 13 at SFA.
"If you had told me we were going to score 86 points tonight I wouldn't have believed you," Drew said. "That's a really good defensive team. Praise the Lord. Credit to our guys for this victory and just the shotmaking that especially the guards displayed."
The Lopes were at their new full strength, minus Blacksher, for the first time since Dec. 17 with junior guard Josh Baker's return from a head injury.
In just his third game back from a five-week absence, junior center Yvan Ouedraogo logged more minutes (35) than he did in last week's two games combined (32) and made immeasurable differences in rim protection and ball screen coverage and setting.
Harrison's and McMillian's night was efficient as well, leading the Lopes' 50% team shooting by going 16 for 23 combined from the field and 9 for 12 from 3-point range. They were the first Lopes duo to each score at least 24 points in a game since Carlos Johnson and Mikey Dixon on Feb. 8, 2020, against California Baptist.
"Each game is getting more and more like a strong connection," McMillian said. "We hold each other accountable on the court and make sure we're in good spirits."
In crunch time, Harrison guided the Lopes down the stretch by setting up McGlothan and Ouedraogo for scores on the inside.
"We put so much on him," Drew said of Harrison. "You see how much the weight is on him. We rely on him to make plays, not just once, but play after play after play sometimes. He really just embraced that challenge. He had two guys chasing him down, and he had to dribble out of that and then find open men. And then sometimes get fouled, 11 for 13 from the free throw line. He's a special player."
The victory came on a night when every other WAC game was won by the underdog, including GCU Arena's next visitor – New Mexico State. The formerly reeling Aggies had a big week, beating Stephen F. Austin and Seattle U after testing Utah Valley on the road.
The Lopes and Aggies play 7 p.m. Wednesday at GCU Arena.
"Trust me, this week we'll make sure everybody knows what Aggie Week is like," McGlothan said.
Earlier than when Lopes sophomore guard Chance McMillian scored or assisted on every point of a 17-7 start against Stephen F. Austin. Earlier than a week of intense practices that included five-on-six offense.
The preliminary work went way back to Jan. 7 when the Lopes' motives were based in a close loss at Stephen F. Austin in their first game after Jovan Blacksher Jr.'s season-ending injury. Payback came in the form of the new GCU backcourt pairing of sophomore guard Ray Harrison with McMillian combining for 52 points and 10 assists in an 86-83 home victory against the Lumberjacks.
McMillian made 6 of 7 shots from 3-point range to obliterate his career high of 17 with a 24-point night while Harrison's steady scoring piled up 28 points in his 17th consecutive double-digit scoring game.
GCU (15-8, 6-4 WAC) only trailed for 36 seconds but had to withstand constant SFA threats for a toughness test that the Lopes passed to move to 11-2 at home.
"Our team was more connected to fight that," said Lopes junior power forward Gabe McGlothan, who paired nine points with a team-high 12 rebounds to help GCU outscore SFA by 12 in his 30 minutes. "In the past, we've continued to lapse sometimes and have to battle from behind. A growth this team is making is with our focus and maturity."
Facing the perimeter pressure of the No. 1 turnover-creating team in the nation, the Lopes cut their turnovers from 10 in the first half to five in the second half to wind up four below Lumberjacks opponents' season average. The improved ball care also limited the easy points that SFA survived upon Saturday, when its last lead was wiped away with a critical 12-2 run that included two Lumberjacks technical fouls.
When SFA (15-9, 7-4 WAC) was within a possession for the final time before the buzzer, McMillian made his sixth 3 for a 70-64 lead with 4:03 to go.
"We just needed to find something to create energy off and I felt like, 'Why not me?' " McMillian said. "I feel like if I bring energy, the team will feed off that and that's what happened tonight."
McMillian came to GCU Basketball Facility at 11 p.m. Friday night for a 90-minute shooting session designed by director of operations Peyton Prudhomme.
After throwing an alleyoop to junior power forward Gabe McGlothan on the game's opening play McMillian hit a 3 on the next play and assisted on Harrison's 3 on the third play to put GCU in early control.
"We had a guy who was just sensational – Chance McMillian," said Lopes head coach Bryce Drew, who entrusted McMillian with running the offense more. "Earlier in the season, he couldn't have played in a game like this with that type of pressure and had the ball in his hand. It just shows the improvement and the focus he's had locking in. It was really just fun to watch."GCU trailed twice in the game. Once in each half, the Lopes wiped the Lumberjacks lead away on the next play and did not let SFA get it back.
With the Lumberjacks fouling 27 times, GCU made 23 of 30 free throws (77%) with Harrison going 11 for 13, matching his free throw season high when he went 11 for 13 at SFA.
"If you had told me we were going to score 86 points tonight I wouldn't have believed you," Drew said. "That's a really good defensive team. Praise the Lord. Credit to our guys for this victory and just the shotmaking that especially the guards displayed."
The Lopes were at their new full strength, minus Blacksher, for the first time since Dec. 17 with junior guard Josh Baker's return from a head injury.
In just his third game back from a five-week absence, junior center Yvan Ouedraogo logged more minutes (35) than he did in last week's two games combined (32) and made immeasurable differences in rim protection and ball screen coverage and setting.
Harrison's and McMillian's night was efficient as well, leading the Lopes' 50% team shooting by going 16 for 23 combined from the field and 9 for 12 from 3-point range. They were the first Lopes duo to each score at least 24 points in a game since Carlos Johnson and Mikey Dixon on Feb. 8, 2020, against California Baptist.
"Each game is getting more and more like a strong connection," McMillian said. "We hold each other accountable on the court and make sure we're in good spirits."In crunch time, Harrison guided the Lopes down the stretch by setting up McGlothan and Ouedraogo for scores on the inside.
"We put so much on him," Drew said of Harrison. "You see how much the weight is on him. We rely on him to make plays, not just once, but play after play after play sometimes. He really just embraced that challenge. He had two guys chasing him down, and he had to dribble out of that and then find open men. And then sometimes get fouled, 11 for 13 from the free throw line. He's a special player."
The victory came on a night when every other WAC game was won by the underdog, including GCU Arena's next visitor – New Mexico State. The formerly reeling Aggies had a big week, beating Stephen F. Austin and Seattle U after testing Utah Valley on the road.
The Lopes and Aggies play 7 p.m. Wednesday at GCU Arena.
"Trust me, this week we'll make sure everybody knows what Aggie Week is like," McGlothan said.
Team Stats
SFA
GCU
FG%
.483
.500
3FG%
.545
.478
FT%
.913
.767
RB
31
29
TO
12
15
STL
10
2
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
28
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
11
Pts
24
FGM
9
3FGM
6
FTM
0
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
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