Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus Purdue Fort Wayne on November 3, 2025 , Win , 90, to, 71
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M Basketball
vs Purdue Fort Wayne
W 90-71
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: David Kadlubowski
Rapid recap: GCU 85, Northwestern State 72
11/21/2025 9:27:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
Lopes roll past Demons at home with altered lineups
Grand Canyon restored its winning ways by trailing for only 32 first-half seconds on its way to an 85-72 home victory over Northwestern State on Friday night.
The Lopes (3-2) scored 30 points on free throws and dominated the glass to win with changes in their lineup. Junior guard Dusty Stromer and freshman center Efe Demirel each came off the bench for the first time, but Stromer played the most minutes (32) and posted the best plus-minus (plus-14) while Demirel matched his scoring season high with 11 points in 22 minutes of play.
Henley was limited to five first-half minutes by foul trouble, but he finished the game with no turnovers in 25 minutes. Defensively, he added two steals and a blocked shot.
Henley drew a driving foul for two free throws, a fastbreak 3-point play, two more free throws and a breakaway dunk on graduate power forward Nana Owusu-Anane's touchdown pass on an inbound.
Go here for Paul Coro's full game story with quotes from head coach Bryce Drew and Lopes players.
The Lopes (3-2) scored 30 points on free throws and dominated the glass to win with changes in their lineup. Junior guard Dusty Stromer and freshman center Efe Demirel each came off the bench for the first time, but Stromer played the most minutes (32) and posted the best plus-minus (plus-14) while Demirel matched his scoring season high with 11 points in 22 minutes of play.
Key player
GCU senior guard Jaden Henley scored 20 of his team-best 22 points in the second half, when he went 10 for 11 on free throws and 5 of 9 from the field.Henley was limited to five first-half minutes by foul trouble, but he finished the game with no turnovers in 25 minutes. Defensively, he added two steals and a blocked shot.
Key moment
When Northwestern State gave itself a final shot by cutting GCU's lead to 76-68 with 2:11 to go, Henley closed out the win by scoring on four consecutive possessions.Henley drew a driving foul for two free throws, a fastbreak 3-point play, two more free throws and a breakaway dunk on graduate power forward Nana Owusu-Anane's touchdown pass on an inbound.
Key statistic
GCU outrebounded Northwestern State 41-17 without allowing an offensive board for the first 32 minutes of the game.Quotable
GCU head coach Bryce Drew: "After our last couple of games, we don't want to dribble so much. We want to pass forward, and I thought we definitely saw more passing."What's next?
The Lopes will play in the Acrisure Classic next week in Palm Desert, California. With both games on CBS Sports Network, GCU will face Utah (5-1) on Tuesday at 10 p.m. (Phoenix time). On Wednesday, the Lopes will play either Iowa (5-0) or Ole Miss (5-0).Go here for Paul Coro's full game story with quotes from head coach Bryce Drew and Lopes players.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's BasketballDusty Stromer smooth from 3
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JADEN HENLEY POSTER 😱
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GCU Men's Basketball vs. Northwestern State - Highlights
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