Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus USC on October 25, 2025 , Loss , 61, to, 67
M Basketball
vs USC
L 61-67
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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Saturday, November 15
Chaifetz Arena • St. Louis, Mo.
6 p.m. (MST)
Grand Canyon
2-2,0-0Mountain West
64
at
78
Saint Louis
4-0,0-0Atlantic 10
1
2
F
Grand Canyon
29
35
64
Saint Louis
38
40
78
Photo by: David Kadlubowski
SLU delivers slew of issues in GCU road loss
11/15/2025 11:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
Lopes shot 28.4%, missed 14 consecutive 2nd-half shots
ST. LOUIS – When it was mercifully over, it was hard to tell that Grand Canyon was ever within two points during the second half of a Saturday night loss at Saint Louis.
The 78-64 final score of the Billikens' win was also kind to the Lopes after they had fallen behind by 27 points in the second half.
A game within GCU's grasp turned into a Saint Louis stranglehold after the Lopes went nearly 10 minutes between made field goals and yielded 11-0 and 13-0 runs to the Billikens (4-0).
In front of a season-best crowd of 6,102 fans at Chaifetz Arena, Saint Louis scored 30 fastbreak points and kept GCU (2-2) to 28.4% shooting to deliver vengeance for last season's last-second loss in Phoenix.
"I can say there wasn't one thing that happened out there that we hadn't prepared the last three days in practice for," Lopes head coach Bryce Drew said. "I think their physicality, their aggressiveness, really hurt us.
"We couldn't use our strength inside. Guys couldn't post up. They got pushed off the box every time. That resulted in taking quick shots, and quick shots usually lead to bad transition defense. Even though you practice it a lot, it's hard to get back in transition when you take bad, quick shots."
Saint Louis made four of its five 3-point shots to lead 14-5 in the first five minutes and used Billkens guard Amari McCottry's steal from Lopes guard Jaden Henley for a half-ending layup that restored that nine-point lead at halftime.
Despite all that, GCU emerged from the second half with a 7-0 run that was punctuated by junior guard Dusty Stromer's 3-pointer. With the Billkens' lead reduced to 38-36, Saint Louis head coach Josh Schertz called timeout to sub out Quentin Jones, who GCU had been attacking offensively because he had three fouls.
Saint Louis scored 11 unanswered points, with McCottry getting six of his game-high 20 points by scoring twice in transition, including a putback, and drawing a foul when GCU graduate center Wilhelm Breidenbach switched onto him.
The Lopes played off McCottry, but he was still able to attack Lopes big men with the Billikens often playing four-guard lineups.
"In the second half, a lot of lanes started opening," said McCottry, who made eight of the nine shots he took in the paint. "It's just something they gave me."
The Lopes' last chance to stay in the game came when GCU junior guard Makaih Williams hit a transition 3-pointer, his only made 3 on nine tries, and graduate power forward Nana Owusu-Anane followed with another fastbreak score on a drive to trail 49-40 with 14:07 to go.
The Lopes missed their next 14 shots from the field, including eight 3-point attempts. During that nine-minute, 52-second stretch, GCU also had three shots blocked and committed four turnovers.
"That was the best 12 minutes of basketball we've played all year," Schertz said. "We really made it hard on them."
GCU's 28.4% shooting was its worst clip in a loss since making 27.1% against Wichita State in November 2022. The Lopes shot 27.8% against San Diego last season but managed to win the game with defense.
"I think it was the physicality," Drew said. "They were up in us. They pushed us. They dictated where they wanted our bigs to catch the ball."
When Saint Louis led 73-46 with six minutes to go, GCU went to a zone defense and took advantage of the absence of Avila and senior guard Dion Brown to tighten the margin. The Lopes ended the game with 11 unanswered points.
With a high motor at 6-3, Brown outworked GCU for 15 rebounds, five of which were on offense. He also guarded various positions to the Billikens' star of the game with only six points.
"He pretty much punked everyone he guarded 1 through 5," Drew said. "His physicality set a tone for the whole game. Whoever he guarded, it was a nightmare for."
Saint Louis senior center Robbie Avila, who did not even need to star but still scored 14, said that Brown did a back flip in the postgame locker room.
"He makes miracles happen," Avila said.
Williams started for the second consecutive game in place of GCU graduate guard Brian Moore Jr., who returned to action for 17 reserve minutes after missing Monday's game for a left wrist injury. Despite going 4 for 17 from the field, Williams scored a team-best 20 points with 11-for-12 free throw shooting.
Henley was the only other Lopes to reach double figures, reaching 12 points on 4-of-13 shooting after he re-entered late and scored on drives twice.
In GCU's 2-2 start, toughness has been a recurring postgame theme in Drew's thoughts. He attributes some of it to having an all-new starting lineup for the first time.
"It's something that is going to take time to correct," Drew said. "The last of couple years, we've had the toughest team every time we walked on the court.
"Right now, we have a lot of guys who are searching, a lot of guys that are trying to figure it out, a lot that are second-guessing, a lot that get broken if something that doesn't go their way in a game."
GCU freshman center Efe Demirel played five minutes despite starting Saturday night. Breidenbach started the second half in his place.
Demirel, a 7-foot-1 Turk who arrived at GCU in August, is 1 for 8 from the field in the past three games.
"He's got to be better," Drew said of Demirel. "He can't be the biggest guy on the court and weight the most and not be able to get a deep spot on the floor and be able to make a layup. He's got to be way more impactful than that. He's got to be more physical than that. If he's going to play, he's got to be a presence down there."
After starting 2-2 for a second consecutive season, GCU plays Northwestern State at home Friday night.
The 78-64 final score of the Billikens' win was also kind to the Lopes after they had fallen behind by 27 points in the second half.
A game within GCU's grasp turned into a Saint Louis stranglehold after the Lopes went nearly 10 minutes between made field goals and yielded 11-0 and 13-0 runs to the Billikens (4-0).
In front of a season-best crowd of 6,102 fans at Chaifetz Arena, Saint Louis scored 30 fastbreak points and kept GCU (2-2) to 28.4% shooting to deliver vengeance for last season's last-second loss in Phoenix."I can say there wasn't one thing that happened out there that we hadn't prepared the last three days in practice for," Lopes head coach Bryce Drew said. "I think their physicality, their aggressiveness, really hurt us.
"We couldn't use our strength inside. Guys couldn't post up. They got pushed off the box every time. That resulted in taking quick shots, and quick shots usually lead to bad transition defense. Even though you practice it a lot, it's hard to get back in transition when you take bad, quick shots."
Saint Louis made four of its five 3-point shots to lead 14-5 in the first five minutes and used Billkens guard Amari McCottry's steal from Lopes guard Jaden Henley for a half-ending layup that restored that nine-point lead at halftime.
Despite all that, GCU emerged from the second half with a 7-0 run that was punctuated by junior guard Dusty Stromer's 3-pointer. With the Billkens' lead reduced to 38-36, Saint Louis head coach Josh Schertz called timeout to sub out Quentin Jones, who GCU had been attacking offensively because he had three fouls.
Saint Louis scored 11 unanswered points, with McCottry getting six of his game-high 20 points by scoring twice in transition, including a putback, and drawing a foul when GCU graduate center Wilhelm Breidenbach switched onto him.The Lopes played off McCottry, but he was still able to attack Lopes big men with the Billikens often playing four-guard lineups.
"In the second half, a lot of lanes started opening," said McCottry, who made eight of the nine shots he took in the paint. "It's just something they gave me."
The Lopes' last chance to stay in the game came when GCU junior guard Makaih Williams hit a transition 3-pointer, his only made 3 on nine tries, and graduate power forward Nana Owusu-Anane followed with another fastbreak score on a drive to trail 49-40 with 14:07 to go.
The Lopes missed their next 14 shots from the field, including eight 3-point attempts. During that nine-minute, 52-second stretch, GCU also had three shots blocked and committed four turnovers.
"That was the best 12 minutes of basketball we've played all year," Schertz said. "We really made it hard on them."
GCU's 28.4% shooting was its worst clip in a loss since making 27.1% against Wichita State in November 2022. The Lopes shot 27.8% against San Diego last season but managed to win the game with defense."I think it was the physicality," Drew said. "They were up in us. They pushed us. They dictated where they wanted our bigs to catch the ball."
When Saint Louis led 73-46 with six minutes to go, GCU went to a zone defense and took advantage of the absence of Avila and senior guard Dion Brown to tighten the margin. The Lopes ended the game with 11 unanswered points.
With a high motor at 6-3, Brown outworked GCU for 15 rebounds, five of which were on offense. He also guarded various positions to the Billikens' star of the game with only six points.
"He pretty much punked everyone he guarded 1 through 5," Drew said. "His physicality set a tone for the whole game. Whoever he guarded, it was a nightmare for."
Saint Louis senior center Robbie Avila, who did not even need to star but still scored 14, said that Brown did a back flip in the postgame locker room.
"He makes miracles happen," Avila said.
Williams started for the second consecutive game in place of GCU graduate guard Brian Moore Jr., who returned to action for 17 reserve minutes after missing Monday's game for a left wrist injury. Despite going 4 for 17 from the field, Williams scored a team-best 20 points with 11-for-12 free throw shooting.
Henley was the only other Lopes to reach double figures, reaching 12 points on 4-of-13 shooting after he re-entered late and scored on drives twice.In GCU's 2-2 start, toughness has been a recurring postgame theme in Drew's thoughts. He attributes some of it to having an all-new starting lineup for the first time.
"It's something that is going to take time to correct," Drew said. "The last of couple years, we've had the toughest team every time we walked on the court.
"Right now, we have a lot of guys who are searching, a lot of guys that are trying to figure it out, a lot that are second-guessing, a lot that get broken if something that doesn't go their way in a game."
GCU freshman center Efe Demirel played five minutes despite starting Saturday night. Breidenbach started the second half in his place.
Demirel, a 7-foot-1 Turk who arrived at GCU in August, is 1 for 8 from the field in the past three games.
"He's got to be better," Drew said of Demirel. "He can't be the biggest guy on the court and weight the most and not be able to get a deep spot on the floor and be able to make a layup. He's got to be way more impactful than that. He's got to be more physical than that. If he's going to play, he's got to be a presence down there."
After starting 2-2 for a second consecutive season, GCU plays Northwestern State at home Friday night.
Team Stats
GCU
SLU
FG%
.284
.458
3FG%
.250
.370
FT%
.864
.824
RB
39
45
TO
12
18
STL
8
8
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
11
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballGCU Men's Basketball at Saint Louis - Highlights
Sunday, November 16
Wilhelm celebrates the putback
Wednesday, November 12
GCU Men's Basketball vs. Northern Illinois - Postgame with Caleb Shaw, Makaih Williams
Tuesday, November 11
GCU Men's Basketball vs. Northern Illinois - Postgame Radio with Bryce Drew
Tuesday, November 11