Flying start soars GCU win streak to 14

Thursday, January 18

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

17-1,7-0WAC

Utah Valley

8-10,3-4WAC

Utah Valley

Grand Canyon

Photo by: David Kadlubowski

1/18/2024 11:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro

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Lopes keep nation's best record at 17-1 by holding UVU to 35.7% shooting

By: Paul Coro

Grand Canyon's dominant halves of basketball continue to be better than opponents' good halves of basketball.

GCU has ascended to the nation's best record at 17-1 by often countering good with great. At home Thursday night, the Lopes did not need to counter when they asserted themselves for their best start in weeks, using a 45-25 first half to down Utah Valley 78-65 in their 14th consecutive victory.

GCU (17-1, 7-0 WAC) enters a three-game road stretch with a two-game lead in the loss column over conference foes. The Lopes have kept the nation's second-longest active winning streak alive with rallies from as many as 14 and 16 points down, but they did not leave Global Credit Union Arena on the same high note Thursday after committing a season-high 21 turnovers to help the Wolverines win the second half.

GCU still was dominant defensively, beginning with an active first half that limited Utah Valley to 28% shooting for an opponent season-low 25 points. The Wolverines scored on two of their first 15 possessions and worsened later when they went more than eight consecutive first-half minutes without making a field goal.

Although Utah Valley managed to finish at 36% shooting for the game, the night marked a continuation of Lopes defense that has allowed 36% shooting cumulatively over the past three games.

"They came out really anticipating well in that first half," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "They were really active in their positioning. That was really fun to see. Those first 20 minutes were as good of a 20 minutes as we've played all year."

Lopes graduate power forward Gabe McGlothan had a dominant first half of across-the-board play to be a startling plus-28 at halftime. He finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three steals and three blocked shots to remain one of five players in the nation who are averaging 14 points and eight rebounds with at least 55% shooting from the field and 40% from 3-point range.

McGlothan had a familiar partner in damage when graduate point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr., his teammate since 2019, came off the bench to punctuate a 14-0, first-half run with a series of two assists and a steal within 18 seconds. GCU led 19-5 and expanded the lead with more defensive and 3-point shooting impact from its bench.

Redshirt freshman guard Isaiah Shaw scored 10 of his 11 points in the first half, when he ended a lopsided Lopes 45-25 advantage with his second 3.

"Last year, I got to learn from two older guys in Walt (Ellis) and Noah (Baumann) and how they were able to come off the bench and hit big shots for us," Shaw said. "I still keep in touch with those dudes, and I'm trying to get pointers. Those two guys have had a huge impact on my career."

Blacksher, who returned Dec. 16 from knee surgery rehabilitation, looked truest to his former All-WAC first-team form Thursday night. He finished with 13 points, four steals, four rebounds and two assists while making 3 of 4 shots from 3-point range, putting him at 10 for 19 from beyond the arc this season.

"I felt good all throughout today," said Blacksher, who had not scored in double figures against a Division I opponent since Dec. 29, 2022. "The guys put on good energy from the beginning, so it allowed me to come out and play basketball.

"It felt good out there, flowing and playing the game and seeing others get hyped. Seeing the crowd into it was amazing."

GCU gave hints of putting away Utah Valley in the second half, taking the lead to 53-30 on consecutive scores by Blacksher and still held a 21-point lead with 5:25 to go.

But more of the sloppy play that accumulated 21 turnovers, including seven by junior guard Collin Moore, limited the effect of GCU's 53% shooting for the game and allowed Utah Valley to have a 17-5 close until freshman center Noah Amenhauser's game-ending slam.

The dunk, which followed a Wolverines timeout to set up a full-court press, prompted Utah Valley guard Tanner Toolson to bump Amenhauser on the court as time expired, leading to the teams having to be separated.

Drew and Utah Valley coach Todd Phillips met in understanding at midcourt once the scene had calmed.

"When you have such a great crowd that's loud, it makes it even more emotional," Drew said. "It was nice that nothing escalated out there and both teams were able to get out and nothing happened."

McGlothan was the only GCU starter to score in double figures, breaking Grant-Foster's season-long string of double-digit scoring games. Lopes sophomore center Duke Brennan could have joined the group, but he fouled out with nine points after missing 4 of 7 free throws. GCU was 15 for 26 at the charity stripe for its second-lowest free throw percentage (58%) of the season.

Isaiah Shaw

In addition to Blacksher's 13 and Shaw's 11 for bench impact, senior guard Josh Baker continues to be one of the team's most reliable defenders while senior center Sydney Curry grabbed four rebounds in 15 minutes and graduate forward Lok Wur blocked two shots.

The GCU bench outscored Utah Valley reserves 36-21 with 63% shooting from the field. The Lopes have shot better than 50% as a team in consecutive games for the first time since the season's first two games, putting their season clip at 49.2%.

"Credit those other five guys, it's hard to come in like that," Drew said. "They shifted the game right away. They got the momentum and the lead back in our hands."

GCU leaves Friday for the first of three consecutive road games. The Lopes play Saturday night at Seattle U, which lost in overtime Thursday night at Stephen F. Austin with Redhawks leading scorer Cameron Tyson out injured for the second consecutive game.

The Lopes' 17-1 start remains the best by the program since the 1995-96 team went 19-1 in Division II. They also are 10-0 at home for the first time in their 11-year Division I era.

"Lately, we've been struggling in the first 10 minutes, and today it was almost opposite," Shaw said. "The last 10 minutes, we couldn't lock in. It's a long season and a long journey, so all you can do is try to get better and fix what you did wrong the game before."