Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball at Baylor on October 10, 2025 at 2 p.m. (MST)
M Basketball
2 p.m. (MST)
at Baylor
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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Saturday, December 7
Phoenix, Ariz.
6 p.m.
Grand Canyon
6-2,0-0WAC
100
vs
52
Life Pacific
1-7
1
2
F
LIFE Pacific
25
27
52
Grand Canyon
58
42
100
Photo by: David Kadlubowski
Bench presses for 100 points, 100 Drew wins at GCU
12/7/2024 9:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
Shaw scores career-high 22 points, leading 65-point reserve effort
Grand Canyon found a fitting early present for head coach Bryce Drew: his 100th win at GCU with a 100-point game.
The Lopes bench gave a 100% effort, scoring 65 points to outscore NAIA opponent Life Pacific by itself in a 100-52 Saturday night rout at Global Credit Union Arena.
GCU sophomore guard Caleb Shaw set his career scoring high (22) and tied his career rebounding high (seven) and freshman point guard Styles Phipps set seasons highs for points (10), assists (six) and steals (six), the last of which was the night's most entertaining moment.
The final push to get walk-on and Havocs favorite Jason Amador his first GCU points appeared to have 100-to-1 odds when he missed two free throws, but Phipps sneaked behind the rebounder, stole the ball and passed to a cutting Amador for a layup that put the Lopes at 100.
"Our bench was fantastic," Drew said. "They played with a lot of energy. They played with pace. They moved the ball. It was really fun to watch that group. In the second half, our upperclassmen picked it up and played much better. I'm really proud of JaKobe Coles. His defensive intensity was probably the best it's been all year, and obviously I loved the last play when Jason (Amador) got to get our 100th point. It was a special moment for him and our fans."
It was a special moment for Drew, reaching 100 wins faster than any GCU coach has in the program's 76-year history. And he collected it with the bonus of having the second unit deliver in extended time, including his nephew, Shaw, having a career night.
Shaw scored 17 of his 22 in the first half, featuring 10 during a 22-0 run that broke open the game in the first half. With senior guard Collin Moore sitting out hurt, the GCU starters could not pull away from Life Pacific until Shaw's three 3-pointers charged a second unit that played with more pace and pressure.
Shaw's previous career high came in November 2022 when he was a Northern Colorado freshman. Since then, he redshirted a year at GCU to strengthen his game, body and the Lopes' bench.
"In practice, we don't get it taken easy on us against the first group," Shaw said. "Whenever we get a chance to go out and play, we want to play with pride, play together and play hard."
The Lopes poured it on, ending the half with 10 consecutive scoring possessions to balloon the lead to 58-25 – GCU's second-largest halftime lead in its Division I era. Graduate forward Lök Wur scored 10 first-half points and finished with 15 points in 12 minutes.
Phipps and Shaw logged a team-high 26 minutes apiece, with Phipps staying in his role as a playmaker after being a scoring star at Phoenix St. Mary's High School. Phipps was a major part of why the Lopes did not make a turnover for the first 30 minutes of the game.
"He is relentless with his workouts," Drew said. "Styles has deserved it for how hard he's worked and how he's played in practice. He's ready for that moment and deserves that moment for what he's invested. What he does out here tonight, we see that in practice. We see his defense and how hard he plays every day and that's why he's successful."
It was Phipps' concentration on giving a complete floor game that impressed Drew most. Phipps is only the second player in the nation this season to have at least 10 points, six assists and six steals off the bench.
"When I get out there, I just do what is needed," Phipps said. "So whether it's scoring, passing, or a lot of times now, I'm just trying to get steals and rebounds. So just help out where I can."
Drew turned to the second unit earlier than usual Saturday night and went back to them in the first half when the starters hit another lull. Another freshman, 7-foot center Austin Maurer, notched the first of three blocked shots to lead to a Wur 3 that began a 21-point burst in the first half's final five minutes.
"it's been hard to find minutes for a lot of players," Drew said. "So it was really nice to put some of our freshmen out there on the court for longer periods of time and let them just play and get used to playing on this court and in front of our fans. It's different making shots and making decisions out here with a packed house and a louder arena than it is in practice. So the more moments they get like that, the more it can help them be ready for games in the future."
The starters were more effective after halftime, especially with junior center Duke Brennan coming within one rebound of his career high. He became only the third player in the nation this season to grab 15 rebounds in 17 minutes or fewer.
But while the first unit went 2 for 15 on 3s, the GCU bench was 6 of 13, including freshman forward Sammie Yeanay's first college 3 after he scored his first points with a first-half putback. Yeanay tallied an 11-point, four-rebound, one-steal, one-block line.
Six GCU reserves scored, with Drew inserting Amador to be the last one after Havocs chants for him began early in the second half. Amador is spending his graduate season at GCU after his previous school, Saint Katherine, closed during his senior year. Amador's victory-capping layup made the bench 25 for 37 from the field (68%).
"It gave us a chance to get used to being out there and playing together," Shaw said. "We are a really deep team, and I think we can use all of us throughout the season."
While Shaw is his nephew, Drew considers everyone in his program to be family. He was quick to credit the GCU players in his 4 1/2 seasons for getting him to 100 wins in 134 games with the Lopes.
"I love coaching so every game I come out here I'm grateful that I get to coach," Drew said. "It's just a credit really to the good players that you have."
The Lopes needed to stay sharp with their toughest road trip of the season ahead. GCU will face Georgia (8-1) on Saturday at the Atlanta Hawks' State Farm Arena before playing at Louisiana Tech (7-2) on Monday in Ruston, Louisiana.
"It is probably as tough of a two-game stretch as we've had since I've been here," Drew said.
The Lopes bench gave a 100% effort, scoring 65 points to outscore NAIA opponent Life Pacific by itself in a 100-52 Saturday night rout at Global Credit Union Arena.
GCU sophomore guard Caleb Shaw set his career scoring high (22) and tied his career rebounding high (seven) and freshman point guard Styles Phipps set seasons highs for points (10), assists (six) and steals (six), the last of which was the night's most entertaining moment.
The final push to get walk-on and Havocs favorite Jason Amador his first GCU points appeared to have 100-to-1 odds when he missed two free throws, but Phipps sneaked behind the rebounder, stole the ball and passed to a cutting Amador for a layup that put the Lopes at 100.
"Our bench was fantastic," Drew said. "They played with a lot of energy. They played with pace. They moved the ball. It was really fun to watch that group. In the second half, our upperclassmen picked it up and played much better. I'm really proud of JaKobe Coles. His defensive intensity was probably the best it's been all year, and obviously I loved the last play when Jason (Amador) got to get our 100th point. It was a special moment for him and our fans."
It was a special moment for Drew, reaching 100 wins faster than any GCU coach has in the program's 76-year history. And he collected it with the bonus of having the second unit deliver in extended time, including his nephew, Shaw, having a career night.Shaw scored 17 of his 22 in the first half, featuring 10 during a 22-0 run that broke open the game in the first half. With senior guard Collin Moore sitting out hurt, the GCU starters could not pull away from Life Pacific until Shaw's three 3-pointers charged a second unit that played with more pace and pressure.
Shaw's previous career high came in November 2022 when he was a Northern Colorado freshman. Since then, he redshirted a year at GCU to strengthen his game, body and the Lopes' bench.
"In practice, we don't get it taken easy on us against the first group," Shaw said. "Whenever we get a chance to go out and play, we want to play with pride, play together and play hard."
The Lopes poured it on, ending the half with 10 consecutive scoring possessions to balloon the lead to 58-25 – GCU's second-largest halftime lead in its Division I era. Graduate forward Lök Wur scored 10 first-half points and finished with 15 points in 12 minutes.
Phipps and Shaw logged a team-high 26 minutes apiece, with Phipps staying in his role as a playmaker after being a scoring star at Phoenix St. Mary's High School. Phipps was a major part of why the Lopes did not make a turnover for the first 30 minutes of the game."He is relentless with his workouts," Drew said. "Styles has deserved it for how hard he's worked and how he's played in practice. He's ready for that moment and deserves that moment for what he's invested. What he does out here tonight, we see that in practice. We see his defense and how hard he plays every day and that's why he's successful."
It was Phipps' concentration on giving a complete floor game that impressed Drew most. Phipps is only the second player in the nation this season to have at least 10 points, six assists and six steals off the bench.
"When I get out there, I just do what is needed," Phipps said. "So whether it's scoring, passing, or a lot of times now, I'm just trying to get steals and rebounds. So just help out where I can."
Drew turned to the second unit earlier than usual Saturday night and went back to them in the first half when the starters hit another lull. Another freshman, 7-foot center Austin Maurer, notched the first of three blocked shots to lead to a Wur 3 that began a 21-point burst in the first half's final five minutes.
"it's been hard to find minutes for a lot of players," Drew said. "So it was really nice to put some of our freshmen out there on the court for longer periods of time and let them just play and get used to playing on this court and in front of our fans. It's different making shots and making decisions out here with a packed house and a louder arena than it is in practice. So the more moments they get like that, the more it can help them be ready for games in the future."
The starters were more effective after halftime, especially with junior center Duke Brennan coming within one rebound of his career high. He became only the third player in the nation this season to grab 15 rebounds in 17 minutes or fewer.
But while the first unit went 2 for 15 on 3s, the GCU bench was 6 of 13, including freshman forward Sammie Yeanay's first college 3 after he scored his first points with a first-half putback. Yeanay tallied an 11-point, four-rebound, one-steal, one-block line.Six GCU reserves scored, with Drew inserting Amador to be the last one after Havocs chants for him began early in the second half. Amador is spending his graduate season at GCU after his previous school, Saint Katherine, closed during his senior year. Amador's victory-capping layup made the bench 25 for 37 from the field (68%).
"It gave us a chance to get used to being out there and playing together," Shaw said. "We are a really deep team, and I think we can use all of us throughout the season."
While Shaw is his nephew, Drew considers everyone in his program to be family. He was quick to credit the GCU players in his 4 1/2 seasons for getting him to 100 wins in 134 games with the Lopes.
"I love coaching so every game I come out here I'm grateful that I get to coach," Drew said. "It's just a credit really to the good players that you have."
The Lopes needed to stay sharp with their toughest road trip of the season ahead. GCU will face Georgia (8-1) on Saturday at the Atlanta Hawks' State Farm Arena before playing at Louisiana Tech (7-2) on Monday in Ruston, Louisiana.
"It is probably as tough of a two-game stretch as we've had since I've been here," Drew said.
Team Stats
Life
GCU
FG%
.261
.500
3FG%
.242
.286
FT%
.889
.686
RB
36
50
TO
19
5
STL
3
14
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
22
FGM
8
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
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