Grant-Foster stretches role, winning streak

Thursday, January 11

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Abilene Christian

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Photo by: David Kadlubowski

1/10/2024 7:29:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro

GCU's leading scorer adds defense, passing as Lopes go for 12th consecutive win at home

By: Paul Coro

Thursday, Jan. 11 \| 7 p.m. \| Global Credit Union Arena \| Phoenix, Ariz.

	ABILENE CHRISTIAN WILDCATS (6-8, 1-2 WAC)	at	GRAND CANYON LOPES (14-1, 4-0 WAC)

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It can be remarkable to see when Tyon Grant-Foster goes from a burning ember to a scorching scorer, much like how his collegiate career has gone from dormant to electric.

But the Grand Canyon rising star is doing more than shocking the college basketball scene by becoming the nation's 13th-leading scorer after missing two seasons because of a heart condition.

Phoenix, AZ Dec. 30 2023: GCU grabs a 75-65 come from behind win over Utah Tech at Burns Arena. in St. George, Utah. David Kadlubowski/GCU

Phoenix, AZ Dec. 30 2023: GCU grabs a 75-65 come from behind win over Utah Tech at Burns Arena. in St. George, Utah. David Kadlubowski/GCU

As GCU takes an 11-game winning streak into Thursday night's home game against Abilene Christian, Grant-Foster brings consistency that is more powerful than any burst of intensity and a well-rounded game that is proving more valuable than just his impressive offense.

The Lopes are 14-1 with a massive boost from the 6-foot-7 senior guard's 20.7 points per game but also are benefiting from how steadily he gets those points – scoring more than 10 in every game this season. And the Kansas City, Kansas, native is delivering 5.6 rebounds as a 6-foot-7 guard with the reach to get 1.7 steals and 1.4 blocks per game.

"Passing and defense are things that people didn't really think I could do when I came in," Grant-Foster said. "I had to show them that I really could. Defense is something I take pride in, getting steals and blocks. My mom (Talisha Grant) is someone who really helped me do that. It's what she likes to see more than my points."

When the flashes began with a 30-point GCU debut on Oct. 11 that more than doubled Grant-Foster's career high, Lopes head coach Bryce Drew predicted that there was so much more to come in his game.

Phoenix, AZ Dec. 30 2023: GCU grabs a 75-65 come from behind win over Utah Tech at Burns Arena. in St. George, Utah. David Kadlubowski/GCU

After entering GCU with a career high of one assist, Grant-Foster was averaging 4.4 assists over a five-game stretch before getting off-track last week without one. On the flip side, he has not committed more than two turnovers in any of the past six games despite playing 30 or more minutes each time.

For the first time this season, he went a game without fouling Saturday at Utah Tech and added his fifth three-steal performance of the season.

"We knew after two years off that it would take some time for Tyon to catch a really good rhythm on the court," Drew said. "Each game, he gets more and more comfortable and you see him make some plays that he didn't make earlier in the year."

When GCU needed to rally at Utah Tech on Saturday, Grant-Foster flipped on the burners for 14 second-half points by repeatedly getting to the rim to co-star with his mentor, graduate power forward Gabe McGlothan. If he does not finish, he often draws fouls and converts there at 76% to rank 17th nationally in free throws made (82).

"I'm just playing my game, trusting the work I put in and trusting my teammates that they trust me to do what I do," Grant-Foster said. "We look to each other. When the opportunity presents itself, I can go do it."

Prepare for Wur

Less than 48 hours after Drew had said he would be talking soon about a standout Lok Wur game, the 6-foot-9 graduate forward gave him one Saturday.

The Lopes have seen the talent and work ethic all summer and fall, but Wur had not been a difference-maker until Saturday's game. His stat line included six points, two rebounds and two steals, but his plus-minus was more indicative of how much he meant to the comeback. GCU outscored Utah Tech by 19 points in his 16 minutes of play.

"That group we brought in for the second half, we brought a level of intensity to be able to flip the script," said Wur, who transferred from Oregon last summer. "I just had to start trusting my work and believe that it would turn around for me. I put in a lot of work, and I take pride in it. Last game is just a glimpse of what could happen."

Wur had played fewer than 10 minutes in seven consecutive games until the past four games, when he has averaged 16.8 minutes per game.

"I just love the culture and energy around here," Wur said. "I love coming every day and grinding. I'm just trying to enjoy this experience. We're winning a lot of games and have good guys all around. I knew it would be a matter of time."

Lope tracks

GCU's 14-1 record is its best start to a season since 1995-96, when it went 19-1 in Division II play. Its winning percentage (.933) is tied for third best in the nation.
Lopes junior guard Ray Harrison ranks sixth nationally for career scoring average (17.0) among active Division I players.
McGlothan ranks 14th among active Division I players for career rebounds (910).
GCU's 11 consecutive wins mark its longest in-season winning streak since taking 12 in a row during the 2015-16 season.
The Lopes rank in the national top 30 for blocks per game (16th, 5.5), free throws made per game (14th, 18.3) and rebound margin (27th, plus-7.4 per game).
Abilene Christian is one of the few teams in the nation to score more on free throws than GCU. The Wildcats rank 12th nationally for makes (18.6) and attempts (25.9).
Traditionally strong with pressure defense, Abilene Christian ranks 16th nationally at 16.3 opponent turnovers per game. The Wildcats have the sixth-lowest blocks average in the nation at 1.5.
Former GCU center Aidan Igiehon is a Wildcats backup, averaging 3.4 points and 2.9 rebounds in 11.2 minutes per game with 36% shooting from the field.

WAC Resume Seeding System (updated Jan. 8)
Rank	Team	Record (WAC only)	WAC points
1.	GCU	14-1 (4-0)	4.92
2.	Tarleton State	10-4 (3-0)	0.77
3.	Seattle U	10-5 (3-1)	0.52
4.	Utah Valley	8-7 (3-1)	-0.05
5.	Stephen F. Austin	10-5 (3-1)	-0.06
6.	UT Arlington	6-9 (1-3)	-1.42
7.	Utah Tech	6-8 (2-2)	-1.93
8.	California Baptist	8-7 (1-3)	-1.97
9.	Abilene Christian	6-8 (1-2)	-2.27
10.	Southern Utah	5-10 (0-4)	-3.763
11.	UT Rio Grande Valley	4-11 (0-4)	-4.91

The WAC Resume Seeding System will determine seeding for the eight-team WAC Tournament. The top two seeds will receive first- and second-round byes. The third and fourth seeds will receive first-round byes.