Completed Event: Men's Basketball at UNLV on February 7, 2026 , Loss , 78, to, 80
M Basketball
at UNLV
L 78-80
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: David Kadlubowski
Rapid recap: GCU 88, Abilene Christian 58
1/16/2025 9:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
Lopes hold Wildcats without made FG for 10 1st-half minutes
Grand Canyon responded to a loss and a work-intensive week with a rousing rout Thursday night, when the Lopes suffocated Abilene Christian defensively and played balanced offensively for an 88-58 win at sold-out Global Credit Union Arena.
The Lopes (12-5, 2-1 WAC) won for the 26th time in the past 27 home games by putting five players in double-digit scoring and holding the Wildcats to 31.6% shooting with 19 turnovers.
GCU junior center Duke Brennan set the tone at the top of the game with two-way play that resulted in his third double-double of the season. Brennan scored seven of the Lopes' first nine points and finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Brennan came within three points of his career scoring high and was largely responsible for Abilene Christian leading scorer Leonardo Bettiol going without a made field goal and having more turnovers (three) than points (two).
Return to GCULopes.com later tonight for Paul Coro's updated game recap with more details and reactions from Lopes head coach Bryce Drew and players.
The Lopes (12-5, 2-1 WAC) won for the 26th time in the past 27 home games by putting five players in double-digit scoring and holding the Wildcats to 31.6% shooting with 19 turnovers.
Key player
GCU junior center Duke Brennan set the tone at the top of the game with two-way play that resulted in his third double-double of the season. Brennan scored seven of the Lopes' first nine points and finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Brennan came within three points of his career scoring high and was largely responsible for Abilene Christian leading scorer Leonardo Bettiol going without a made field goal and having more turnovers (three) than points (two).
Key moment
The Lopes kept the Wildcats from making a field for a 10-minute stretch early in the game. Abilene Christian went 0 for 12 from the field with seven turnovers during that stretch, when GCU scored 14 unanswered points for a 14-3 lead on graduate swingman Tyon Grant-Foster's 3-pointer.Key statistic
GCU has held four of its past five opponents to sub-40% shooting from the field.Quotable
Lopes head coach Bryce Drew: "Five guys in double figures. Our defense was great. We held them to three points in the first 10 minutes. We rebounded the basketball. We shared the basketball. What I loved was the energy and how our team was connected on both ends tonight."What's next?
GCU stays home for another home game Saturday night, when the Lopes will play host to 2023-24 WAC runner-up Tarleton State. The Texans are 3-1 in conference play after defeating California Baptist 67-57 at home Thursday night, when Tarleton State's top player, Freddy Hicks, made his season debut with 15 points in 20 minutes off the bench.Return to GCULopes.com later tonight for Paul Coro's updated game recap with more details and reactions from Lopes head coach Bryce Drew and players.
Players Mentioned
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