Ball-sharing GCU bombards Norfolk State

Friday, November 22

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

3-2,0-0WAC

Norfolk State

4-3,0-0MEAC

Norfolk St.

Grand Canyon

Photo by: David Kadlubowski

11/22/2024 11:11:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro

Box Score Postgame with Bryce Drew Postgame with Ray Harrison Postgame with Duke Brennan Photo Gallery

Lopes build 27-point halftime lead, shoot 61% in Brennan's return

By: Paul Coro

Grand Canyon's play Friday night was like a popular post on Instagram – full of shares and likes.

With its complete lineup in place for the first time this season, Grand Canyon zoomed off the starting line and ran over Norfolk State while lapping it in a 54-27 halftime pileup at Global Credit Union Arena.

The Lopes assisted on 31 of their 33 made baskets to set a program Division I-era record for assists vs. a D-I opponent, leading to a 91-73 victory that marked the relieving return of GCU junior starting center Duke Brennan.

Brennan's impact paired with the Lopes' motivation to atone as catalysts for a devastating first half of balanced offense and active defense.

Stinging from having its 18-game home winning streak ended Wednesday to UC Davis, the Lopes delivered an about-face effort and focus that carried over from Wednesday's second-half comeback attempt from a 16-point hole.

"It was really fun to watch," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "It was fun to see the ball moving and guys being shot-ready. It's a great game for us to see that, when we move the ball, how fun it can be. Hopefully, this sticks with us."

Phoenix, AZ Nov. 22 2024 : The Lopes get a 91-73 win over Norfolk State at Global Credit Union Arena.

Phoenix, AZ Nov. 22 2024 : The Lopes get a 91-73 win over Norfolk State at Global Credit Union Arena.

Brennan's absence in the first four games for a left arm injury affected the GCU starting lineup and rotation. His screen-and-rolls were missed on offense. His physicality and activity were missed on defense and the boards.

"It was hard going out those first couple of games," Brennan said. "Being able to recover and get back on the court with my teammates is great. It's great to get a win tonight and see all those guys happy."

That Brennan energy was felt from the start Friday, when the 6-foot-10 junior scored on a rolling layup from senior swingman Tyon Grant-Foster on the first possession. In his first five-on-five play of any sort since October, he scored again two minutes later.

The Lopes' more energetic play was being matched by the Spartans (4-3) until a teardrop shot from GCU senior guard Ray Harrison started a 20-2 run.

"Having Duke Brennan changes our team dramatically, so I have to give him a lot of credit for rehabbing hard and our medical staff and him having the will to get back on the court to do what he does," Drew said. "He had 13 (points) and seven (rebounds), but he puts pressure on the rim on his rolls. He sets big screens. He takes a lot of contact in there, which frees things up for guys like JaKobe (Coles) and Lok (Wur) and Tyon (Grant-Foster). His presence changes both ends of the court for us."

Lok Wur

After going 4 for 25 from 3-point range Wednesday, the quality of 3s taken changed Friday with skip passes, extra swing pass and drive-and-kicks. Working Norfolk State's defense from side to side, GCU went 8 for 12 on 3s in the 54-27 first half and finished the game at 14 for 24, a 58.3% clip that topped any game from last season.

The 54 points matched a Lopes Division I-era record for scoring in the first half.

"That first half was as fun of a half and as good of a half as I've seen since I've been here with how we moved the ball and how we shot the ball," Drew said.

Norfolk State, stocked with eight seniors, was within three points in the last two minutes at Stanford on Wednesday but made eight turnovers in the first half at GCU on Friday. The Spartans did not score at the free throw line in Friday's first 25 minutes.

"Energy, toughness, desire, grit, will, determination, care," Drew said. "You could throw a whole ton of words in there, and our guys did them all tonight. We thought we made a lot of huge progress in the last 24 hours, and it was really nice to see them come out and respond like that."

Phoenix, AZ Nov. 22 2024 : The Lopes get a 91-73 win over Norfolk State at Global Credit Union Arena.

There were plenty of individual turnarounds, but Harrison did his in starring fashion. Harrison went 2 for 10 with three assists and four turnovers against UC Davis but was uber-efficient Friday, making 5 of 7 shots for 17 points and delivering a career high-tying eight assists without a turnover.

Harrison contributed to a ball-sharing mentality that culminated in 31 assists, three better than the program's 9-year-old record against Mississippi Valley State.

Harrison was one of four players with at least five assists, including Coles having a career-high five. Coles and Grant-Foster shared the scoring lead with 20 points apiece, as they were two of five players that sank multiple 3s.

"All of us kind of felt embarrassed after the last loss," Harrison said. "We just knew we wanted to come into this one and play the right way. That's really the only thing that changed – we played the right way."

GCU next plays Stanford, which is undefeated entering a Saturday game against Santa Clara, on Tuesday as part of the Holiday Acrisure Classic in Palm Desert, California.