Free throws, defense make unique winning formula

Saturday, December 28

Inglewood, Calif. / Intuit Dome

4:30 p.m. (MST)

Grand Canyon

9-4,0-0WAC

San Diego

3-10,0-0WCC

Grand Canyon

San Diego

Photo by: David Kadlubowski

12/28/2024 9:52:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro

Box Score Photo Gallery

At Intuit Dome's 1st college event, GCU beats USD with 36 free throws made

By: Paul Coro

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – As a 4-month-old, the $2 billion Intuit Dome had not seen a college basketball event until Saturday. And it likely will not see a team win the way that Grand Canyon did again because no team had done it previously.

GCU was clutch at the free throw line but not much from the field in leading San Diego wire to wire for a 68-55 win at the West Coast Hoops Showcase.

No Division I team has ever won a regulation-length game by making 35 or more free throws and shooting less than 30% from the field until the Lopes did so Saturday, according to the Stathead database.

GCU sank 36 of 42 free throws (86%) to offset 27.8% shooting from the field and finish its third consecutive win. The Lopes have won eight of their past 10 games against West Coast Conference opponents.

"To win this game by 13 and have some of us have a couple shooting droughts over the last few games, it's a tribute to some of the work we've been putting in with the little details that are helping us win," GCU senior JaKobe Coles said. "When we start knocking down shots and making more of the simple plays, it's going to be scary. I'm excited to see that in the future."

The Lopes (9-4) shot 20% outside of Coles, whose steady flow of interior moves and square-up, mid-range jumpers provided GCU's most reliable offense.

Inglewood, CA. Dec. 28, 2024 : The Lopes picked up its third consecutive victory with a 68-55 win over San Diego at the Intuit Dome. David Kadlubowski/GCU

The 6-foot-8 power forward went 6 for 10 from the field and 6 for 6 at the free throw line for 18 points and 10 rebounds, his first double-double since opening the season with the first two double-doubles of his career.

"JaKobe was really good, especially in the post and that mid-post," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "He made some tough 2s and nice post moves. He had a really nice game. He's kind of sneaky how he gets his rebounds. He did a good job, having a nose for the ball."

Playing their third game in an NBA arena this season, the Lopes strategically intended to drive or pass into the paint more often and only took 12 of their 54 shots from 3-point range. They made just two, which came in a 27-second span when senior guards Ray Harrison's and Collin Moore's 3s gave GCU a 50-39 lead with 8:53 to go.

The Lopes were able to get paint touches and rim attacks but had difficulties finishing. Nearly four minutes of the game had played before Coles' spinning take provided their first made field goal.

"We really talked about getting the ball in the paint and driving the ball," Drew said. "We opened up a lot of room for guys to drive and be aggressive. I was really happy with that. The 42 free throws, that's the strength of our team. Getting to the rim and especially in an environment like this."

Inglewood, CA. Dec. 28, 2024 : The Lopes picked up its third consecutive victory with a 68-55 win over San Diego at the Intuit Dome. David Kadlubowski/GCU

GCU's defense had San Diego struggling more. The Toreros shot 31% from the field and went 4 for 25 on 3-pointers while only scoring seven points on free throws.

The Lopes created pace from creating turnovers or using missed 3-pointers for long rebounds. In half-court offense, GCU found driving opportunities but had difficulty finishing in traffic.

It resulted in the Lopes leading just 31-26 at halftime with 19% shooting from the field and 19-for-22 accuracy at the free throw line.

"In the first half, we were right there and didn't finish plays off defensively and offensively at times," Drew said. "We talked about finishing plays off. They had two runs and cut it to five. I'm proud of our guys. They responded."

Before the game's final run, GCU built double-digit leads twice only to allow San Diego tighten the lead each time.

Once the Toreros (3-10) cut the score to 56-49 with 4:57 to go in the game, the Lopes held San Diego to 1-for-11 shooting for the remainder.

"I definitely felt we were in control most of the game," Coles said. "A lot of the mistakes and the times that they were coming back a little was mistakes on our part.

"Coach emphasized the last 10% of possessions on both ends in the first half. We weren't controlling that."

Inglewood, CA. Dec. 28, 2024 : The Lopes picked up its third consecutive victory with a 68-55 win over San Diego at the Intuit Dome. David Kadlubowski/GCU

GCU's 36 free throws were the most they have made in a regular-season game during their 12-year Division I era and one shy of the program's D-I era record set when it won last season's WAC Tournament championship against UT Arlington.

Each of the eight rotation players made free throws with Harrison going 8 for 8 as he passed DeWayne Russell for 12th on the Lopes' all-time scoring list (fifth for D-I era).

"They still were able to get into the paint and get downhill in terms of dribble penetration," San Diego head coach Steve Lavin said. "There were some times in terms of our positioning off the ball. We wanted to be more compact, what we call being in the gaps. Like eight in a box in football, across the line of scrimmage when you're facing a great running back, because you know they're going to keep handing it to them. And they continue to drive it. That got them to the bonus, the double bonus and ultimately they were rewarded with that aggressiveness with 42 free throws."

The new three-guard starting lineup moved to 3-0, but Harrison and sophomore guards Caleb Shaw and Makaih Williams were 1 for 16 from the field combined. Graduate swingman Tyon Grant-Foster went 3 for 10 on a 12-point, seven-rebound, two-block night off the bench.

Inglewood, CA. Dec. 28, 2024 : The Lopes picked up its third consecutive victory with a 68-55 win over San Diego at the Intuit Dome. David Kadlubowski/GCU

Moore fouled out in 23 reserve minutes and went 2 for 7 but was impactful defensively with four steals, his 12th career game of four steals or more.

San Diego's 31.4% shooting was lower than every GCU opponent but California Baptist when the Lopes went 30-5 last season.

"Collin and Lök got in the gaps and got some deflections for us to allow us to get in transition and gets some dunks, which gave us some energy," Drew said. "When Collin's really locked in and he's solid, he does a really, really good job on the ball. Where he gets in trouble is where he gambles."

The game marked only the third time that the Lopes have won with sub-30% shooting in their D-I era. Each occasion came away from Global Credit Union Arena, where they will return at 6 p.m. Monday to play Bryant in the last game before WAC action starts at home Jan. 4 against Southern Utah.