Grant-Foster's versatility impacts Lopes upon home return

Tuesday, Dec. 3 \| 7 p.m. \| Global Credit Union Arena \| Phoenix, Ariz.

	HAWAI'I RAINBOW WARRIORS (5-1)	at	GRAND CANYON LOPES (4-2)

WATCH: FOX 10 Xtra (Ch. 45, Cable 9), ESPN+ \| LISTEN: 1580 The Fanatic \| STATS: View

Tyon Grant-Foster is one of college basketball's most dangerous scorers.

When he is not scoring as much, he is still one of the most dangerous players.

As Grand Canyon resumes winning ways at full strength, the Lopes enter Tuesday night's home game against future Mountain West opponent Hawai'I with Grant-Foster reminding fans that he won WAC Player of the Year for more than being the scoring champion.

Palm Desert, CA Nov. 26 2024 : The Lopes secure a 78-71 win over Stanford in the 2024 Men's Acrisure Holiday Classic at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, CA. David Kadlubowski/GCU

Palm Desert, CA Nov. 26 2024 : The Lopes secure a 78-71 win over Stanford in the 2024 Men's Acrisure Holiday Classic at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, CA. David Kadlubowski/GCU

The Lopes graduate swingman did not register double-digit points in last Tuesday's 78-71 win against Stanford, but his fingerprints were all over the win in Palm Desert, California.

In just his third single-digit scoring game at GCU, Grant-Foster's statistical line of eight points, eight rebounds, five assists, three blocked shots and a steal only revealed some of his impact.

At 6 feet 7, Grant-Foster elevated amid big men to rip eight rebounds and, just as importantly, start immediate fastbreaks. Off the glass, he does not need an outlet pass. He dribbles upcourt to create GCU high-tempo chances that were especially critical against slow-paced Stanford.

"He had a really good floor game," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "He was doing a lot of other things out there. His shooting rhythm will come. He missed some shots that he normally makes. In the matchup zone, they were finding him a lot. That helped open some holes for other guys."

Grant-Foster matched his career high for assists and blocked shots, but he could have had three more assists for when teammates missed a layup, passed out of a layup or dropped a pass under the basket. He has 13 assists in his first four games this season after not recording his first assist until the fourth game last season.

His rebounding is a carryover from how he finished last season. In four WAC and NCAA tournament games, Grant-Foster elevated to 7.5 rebounds per contest. He is averaging 7.0 boards in his first four games this season.

"I haven't been shooting the best, but I feel like last year everyone thought that was the only thing I could bring," said Grant-Foster, who is shooting 39% from the field. "I feel like I can do everything, and I showed last game that I can impact the game in multiple ways."

In the first 35 seconds of Tuesday's second half, Grant-Foster grabbed the opening rebound, dazzled with a spinning and-one move and completed an incredible defensive sequence. His post help prompted a kickout pass by 7-foot-1 Maxime Raynaud, and Grant-Foster still raced out to block the ensuing 3-point shot by 6-foot-6 Ryan Agarwal.

It took an effort like that to top a first-half play in which he jumped to deflect a pass and controlled the carom while in the air. That set him up to start a fastbreak with an upcourt pass for a 3-pointer by senior guard Ray Harrison.

"Effort and defense," GCU sophomore guard Makaih Williams said. "We all know how talented of a scorer Tyon is, but he did the little things."

Tyon Grant-Foster

Grant-Foster still scores plenty at 16.3 points per game. That demands attention because of how dynamic he is in the open court. In a definitive late-game stretch against Stanford, Grant-Foster drove right side and drew three Stanford defenders in their matchup zone. He whipped the ball to the left sideline, where Harrison canned a 3-pointer for GCU's largest lead at the time.

A trip later, Grant-Foster grabbed a rebound and, even with five Stanford players ahead of him, went coast to coast for a layup that put the Lopes ahead 61-52 with 7:23 remaining.

GCU beat a previously undefeated team without its star scorer being one of the five Lopes in double-digit scoring.

"Our team is different this year," Grant-Foster said. "I have to do other stuff. We have other people who can score. If they're scoring, I can get them the ball and I can do everything else -- rebound, play defense, get steals, block shots and get other opportunities for my teammates.

"I feel like the scoring is going to come. That's what I do best. If I continue to play the game the right way, the ball is going to fall. I had my career high in assists. That's what I was most proud of."

Lope tracks

GCU senior guard Collin Moore is shooting a team-best 44% from 3-point range after making 29.5% of his 3s last season.
Harrison ranks seventh among active Division I players with 2,073 points. Only Alabama's Mark Sears (622) has made more free throws than Harrison (547).
The Lopes rank 20th in the nation for free throw points per game (19.3).
Grant-Foster, Harrison, Moore and graduate forward Lök Wur are each averaging at least 1.5 steals per game.
After going 5-1 at home, Hawai'I is playing its first road game at GCU. It is the programs' first-ever meeting.
The Rainbow Warriors are led by a familiar face in Tanner Christiansen, a Utah Tech graduate transfer. The 6-foot-10 center is averaging 14.3 points and 7.7 rebounds while ranking 17th nationally with 68% shooting from the field. He had 18 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in February at GCU.
GCU faces an opponent averaging fewer than 10 turnovers for a second consecutive game. The Rainbow Warriors rank 27th nationally with 9.7 turnovers per game.
The Lopes have outscored opponents by an average of 16.5 points from the 3-point line in the past two games by going 19 for 36 (53%) and holding opponents to 8 for 36 (22%).