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, January 4
Phoenix, Ariz.
6 p.m.
Grand Canyon
11-4,1-0WAC
82
vs
71
Southern Utah
8-7,0-1WAC
1
2
F
Southern Utah
31
40
71
Grand Canyon
41
41
82
Photo by: David Kadlubowski
GCU makes most of 2nd chances in WAC opener
1/4/2025 10:14:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
Brennan grabs 10 of Lopes' 19 offensive rebounds to beat Southern Utah
There are teams and players who don't see the next opportunity, and those who just don't seize it.
Grand Canyon made the most of second chances Saturday night, and nobody did it better or more often than Lopes junior center Duke Brennan. After GCU trailed for the first time in the WAC opener, Brennan scored 11 points on second chances during a 15-5 run that led the Lopes to an 82-71 victory at Global Credit Union Arena.
In front of an overflow crowd of 7,398 fans, GCU (11-4, 1-0 WAC) won its fifth consecutive game with instant life from graduate swingman Tyon Grant-Foster breaking out of his shooting slump.
Grant-Foster scored eight of the Lopes' first 13 points with more made 3-pointers (two) than he had sank in the previous nine games (1 for 36). That carried over to the Lopes' hot hands combining for eight 3-pointers and a 41-31 halftime lead that grew to 46-33.
The Thunderbirds rallied and took their first lead, 59-58, with 7:40 to go before Brennan worked for five of his career-high 10 offensive rebounds to swing the outcome. Brennan tipped in two misses, drew a foul for two free throws and sank two putbacks, including a 3-point play that gave the Lopes a 73-64 lead with 3:24 remaining. Brennan posted a 12-point, 12-rebound second half to finish with 16 points and 15 rebounds.
"I always say a prayer before the game for the Lord to give me favor on rebounds because sometimes rebounds is a little bit of luck," said Brennan, who has recorded consecutive double-doubles with 15-rebound totals in each win. "But sometimes I have that favor. Sometimes, it's my mentality and determination to go and find that ball. Out-of-area rebounding is one of the keys I try to make for my game. So be able to find it, it's one of my skills."
Brennan was a massive part of that, becoming the 15th player in the nation to grab 10 offensive rebounds in a game this season. He already had been keeping possessions alive with 12 offensive rebounds in the previous two wins combined.
Against WAC rebounding leader Southern Utah, GCU held a 25-9 advantage in second-chance points despite allowing nine offensive rebounds in the first half, when the Thunderbirds shot 36% from the field.
"What I loved is that second half, different from the first half, when Duke got them, he converted them," said Lopes head coach Bryce Drew, who is 5-0 in WAC openers. "He converted either the made basket, or he got free throws. Going 6 of 7 at the free throw line was fantastic."
Grant-Foster scored the first points of the game when his first shot, a 3-point attempt, popped off the back rim and soared high to a collective arena grasp before dropping through the net. It freed his frustration and confidence to make another 3-pointer and a turnaround jumper in the Lopes' 15-7 start.
GCU used eight steals and six blocked shots in the first half to fuel tempo, unafraid to run and outrun the WAC's leading fastbreak scorers. Grant-Foster led the defensive effort that kept Southern Utah's usual leading scorer, Jamir Simpson, scoreless in the half. He posted the team's best defensive rating for the game and also matched his season high with 23 points, adding a transition 3-pointer, a driving score and two free throws before halftime for a 41-31 GCU lead.
"It means so much to me and my teammates," said Grant-Foster, who also finished the game with nine rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots. "They know I've been struggling to put the ball in the basket, and they literally tell me every day, 'Bro, this is what you do. Shoot the ball.
"We were in practice this week, every time we had an extra, they were passing it to me and telling me to shoot the ball. This means so much to me. We're about to be a special team this year. We're about to do so much."
After earning just six free throws in the first half, the Lopes were more aggressive with penetration that drew Thunderbirds fouls in the second half. GCU was in the bonus situation for the final 10 minutes and went 12 for 16 at the free throw line in the second half.
"We didn't keep settling and just shooting 3s in the second half," Drew said. "We switched gears and got to the rim."
With a pair of 41-point halves, the Lopes scored in different ways. They made only three 3-pointers after halftime but scored twice as many points in the paint (20 vs. 10) and at the free throw line (12 vs. five).
The nastiest attack came when GCU senior guard Collin Moore posterized Southern Utah center Brock Felder for a 3-point play that capped Moore's 17-point effort. He was plus-19 for the game, making the Lopes minus-eight in the seven minutes he rested.
"When he was on the court, our defense was significantly better," Drew said. "I'm really pleased with him. I thought he had a rough patch to start that second half, and he really regrouped and came back in. That's a great sign of his maturity, his confidence in himself, his wanting to win. And he had a really, really good all-around game tonight."
Each of the four home teams won on the opening night of WAC play. The Lopes will play Thursday night at Utah Valley, which moved to 9-6 overall and 5-0 at home with a 64-53 victory against Abilene Christian.
The Lopes will take a five-game wining streak into Orem, Utah, despite shooting less than 42% from the field in four consecutive games. But their Saturday night offense included their second-most 3-point makes (11) and most offensive rebounds (19) of the season.
"When you get to conference season, it's just different," Drew said. "Games just hit different. They feel different. Teams prepare different. Teams are even more locked in because it's a new season for everyone starting fresh.
"Thankful we got to start at home and get momentum going to next Thursday's game. Home games are really hard. Road games are even harder in conference play."
Grand Canyon made the most of second chances Saturday night, and nobody did it better or more often than Lopes junior center Duke Brennan. After GCU trailed for the first time in the WAC opener, Brennan scored 11 points on second chances during a 15-5 run that led the Lopes to an 82-71 victory at Global Credit Union Arena.
In front of an overflow crowd of 7,398 fans, GCU (11-4, 1-0 WAC) won its fifth consecutive game with instant life from graduate swingman Tyon Grant-Foster breaking out of his shooting slump.
Grant-Foster scored eight of the Lopes' first 13 points with more made 3-pointers (two) than he had sank in the previous nine games (1 for 36). That carried over to the Lopes' hot hands combining for eight 3-pointers and a 41-31 halftime lead that grew to 46-33.
The Thunderbirds rallied and took their first lead, 59-58, with 7:40 to go before Brennan worked for five of his career-high 10 offensive rebounds to swing the outcome. Brennan tipped in two misses, drew a foul for two free throws and sank two putbacks, including a 3-point play that gave the Lopes a 73-64 lead with 3:24 remaining. Brennan posted a 12-point, 12-rebound second half to finish with 16 points and 15 rebounds.
"I always say a prayer before the game for the Lord to give me favor on rebounds because sometimes rebounds is a little bit of luck," said Brennan, who has recorded consecutive double-doubles with 15-rebound totals in each win. "But sometimes I have that favor. Sometimes, it's my mentality and determination to go and find that ball. Out-of-area rebounding is one of the keys I try to make for my game. So be able to find it, it's one of my skills."
Brennan was a massive part of that, becoming the 15th player in the nation to grab 10 offensive rebounds in a game this season. He already had been keeping possessions alive with 12 offensive rebounds in the previous two wins combined.Against WAC rebounding leader Southern Utah, GCU held a 25-9 advantage in second-chance points despite allowing nine offensive rebounds in the first half, when the Thunderbirds shot 36% from the field.
"What I loved is that second half, different from the first half, when Duke got them, he converted them," said Lopes head coach Bryce Drew, who is 5-0 in WAC openers. "He converted either the made basket, or he got free throws. Going 6 of 7 at the free throw line was fantastic."
Grant-Foster scored the first points of the game when his first shot, a 3-point attempt, popped off the back rim and soared high to a collective arena grasp before dropping through the net. It freed his frustration and confidence to make another 3-pointer and a turnaround jumper in the Lopes' 15-7 start.
GCU used eight steals and six blocked shots in the first half to fuel tempo, unafraid to run and outrun the WAC's leading fastbreak scorers. Grant-Foster led the defensive effort that kept Southern Utah's usual leading scorer, Jamir Simpson, scoreless in the half. He posted the team's best defensive rating for the game and also matched his season high with 23 points, adding a transition 3-pointer, a driving score and two free throws before halftime for a 41-31 GCU lead.
"It means so much to me and my teammates," said Grant-Foster, who also finished the game with nine rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots. "They know I've been struggling to put the ball in the basket, and they literally tell me every day, 'Bro, this is what you do. Shoot the ball."We were in practice this week, every time we had an extra, they were passing it to me and telling me to shoot the ball. This means so much to me. We're about to be a special team this year. We're about to do so much."
After earning just six free throws in the first half, the Lopes were more aggressive with penetration that drew Thunderbirds fouls in the second half. GCU was in the bonus situation for the final 10 minutes and went 12 for 16 at the free throw line in the second half.
"We didn't keep settling and just shooting 3s in the second half," Drew said. "We switched gears and got to the rim."
With a pair of 41-point halves, the Lopes scored in different ways. They made only three 3-pointers after halftime but scored twice as many points in the paint (20 vs. 10) and at the free throw line (12 vs. five).
The nastiest attack came when GCU senior guard Collin Moore posterized Southern Utah center Brock Felder for a 3-point play that capped Moore's 17-point effort. He was plus-19 for the game, making the Lopes minus-eight in the seven minutes he rested.
"When he was on the court, our defense was significantly better," Drew said. "I'm really pleased with him. I thought he had a rough patch to start that second half, and he really regrouped and came back in. That's a great sign of his maturity, his confidence in himself, his wanting to win. And he had a really, really good all-around game tonight."Each of the four home teams won on the opening night of WAC play. The Lopes will play Thursday night at Utah Valley, which moved to 9-6 overall and 5-0 at home with a 64-53 victory against Abilene Christian.
The Lopes will take a five-game wining streak into Orem, Utah, despite shooting less than 42% from the field in four consecutive games. But their Saturday night offense included their second-most 3-point makes (11) and most offensive rebounds (19) of the season.
"When you get to conference season, it's just different," Drew said. "Games just hit different. They feel different. Teams prepare different. Teams are even more locked in because it's a new season for everyone starting fresh.
"Thankful we got to start at home and get momentum going to next Thursday's game. Home games are really hard. Road games are even harder in conference play."
Team Stats
SUU
GCU
FG%
.446
.397
3FG%
.333
.550
FT%
.875
.773
RB
32
45
TO
14
13
STL
5
12
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
23
FGM
7
3FGM
3
FTM
6
Pts
17
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
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