Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus Utah on November 25, 2025 , Win , 68, to, 58
M Basketball
vs Utah
W 68-58
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Saturday, December 13
Phoenix, Ariz.
6 p.m.
Grand Canyon
6-4,0-0Mountain West
82
vs
61
Coastal Carolina
6-5,0-0Sun Belt
1
2
F
Coastal Carolina
25
36
61
Grand Canyon
52
30
82
Photo by: David Kadlubowski
Optimal 1st half sparks Lopes blowout win
12/13/2025 10:07:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
GCU takes 27-point halftime lead, makes season-low 5 turnovers
This week had been Grand Canyon's best week of practice since this version of the Lopes began forming in June.
The Lopes practiced with focus, precise execution, unselfishness and hustle.
And they played the same way Saturday night, merging those traits into their season's finest half of basketball that sent GCU to an 82-61 victory over Coastal Carolina on Saturday night.
The memory files transferred from members-only GCU Basketball Practice Facility to sold-out Global Credit Union Arena in a basketball cloud that rained on Coastal Carolina (6-5) for a 52-25 first half. The margin matched the second-largest halftime lead of GCU's Division I era (since 2013-14).
"This is, in my mind, our most pleasing game all year," Lopes head coach Bryce Drew said.
The timing was ideal with it being GCU's final game before beginning its first Mountain West season with a trip to Wyoming (8-2) for next Saturday's conference opener. The Lopes come out of a winding six weeks with the same 10-game record (6-4) as last season's eventual NCAA Tournament qualifier.
Coastal Carolina ranked second nationally in defensive rebounds per game, but GCU grabbed twice as many rebounds in the first half and finished with a 20-7 advantage in second-chance points. The Chanticleers were allowing 70 points per game, and the Lopes passed that threshold with 8:24 remaining.
GCU also committed only five turnovers for its lowest total against a Division I opponent since March 2024. The Lopes have dished out at least 19 assists in consecutive games for the first time since the 2020-21 season.
"We've talked about this team's ability to pass and space," Drew said. "When we're playing at our best, we're assisting other players and helping them get open shots. The last two games, probably the reason our offense has been much more successful is because we're taking care of the ball better and making easier, smarter decisions."
GCU junior guard Makaih Williams has exemplified that, recording five assists off the bench in each of the past two games with only one turnover total. He nearly led the Lopes in every major category Saturday night, scoring 16 points to be two shy of junior guard Caleb Shaw's 18 points and grabbing six rebounds to be two shy of graduate center Wilhelm Breidenbach's eight rebounds (six offensive).
"We take pride in the small details, like crashing the glass and guarding the ball," Williams said. "That's what the best teams do, so we've got to do it."
Shaw posted the best two-game scoring total of his career, scoring 18 on Saturday night to follow up his 19-point game in his first start of the season last Saturday against Oklahoma State.
Williams and Shaw, the team's only rotation returnees, were key parts of the 19-2 run that distanced GCU from Coastal Carolina in the first half. The Lopes held the Chanticleers to two points over approximately six minutes and hustled to keep one possession alive for six shots.
The GCU staff charts 50-50 balls, and Drew said the Lopes won 18 of 25 chances Saturday night.
"They were first to the floor," Drew said. "It was just really good to see the effort from everyone."
Williams scored seven points during that 19-2 run, including a 3-pointer and pull-up jumper consecutively. GCU senior guard Jaden Henley's steal led to Shaw drawing a fastbreak foul for two free throws and a 29-12 Lopes lead with 8:55 until halftime.
GCU used Coastal Carolina's propensity for fouls and defended one-on-one well with strong help efforts against Chanticleer guards for a 17-4 advantage in free throw points.
Lopes junior guard Dusty Stromer hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to put GCU ahead 52-25 at halftime. The Lopes had only shot 42.5% from the field in the first half, but they were tilting the scoreboard on points off second chances (18-3) and free throws (11-1).
"You watch film from tonight and watch film from a month ago, you probably wouldn't recognize the team," Drew said. "I think we're completely different offensively and defensively. I think these guys are much more comfortable out there. They're understanding the schemes better. They're executing really well."
The hig
h standard was difficult to maintain in the second half, but GCU never allowed Coastal Carolina to threaten the large margin. The Chanticleers feature three 15-point backcourt scorers, but only Joshua Beedle hurt the Lopes with 18 points. The rest of Beedle's team went 16 for 50 (32%) from the field.
GCU graduate power forward Nana Owusu-Anane followed the coaches' guidance to play more decisively on offense and put up a nine-point, four-rebound first half. He stepped into pockets for mid-range shots when Coastal Carolina's big men dropped back, and he stretched the defense with a pair of 3-pointers.
"You've got to find a balance between being aggressive and knowing when to take a step back in a way," Owusu-Anane said. "On this team, when I play well, I think our team as a whole plays well. I just have to continue to find my groove to help our team win."
After an unusual December week of three two-a-day practice sessions (Drew's "favorite week all year," Shaw said), the Lopes get another week of preparation for next Saturday's Mountain West debut at Wyoming. The Cowboys (8-2) are 8-0 at home and have the conference's second-best NET ranking (No. 61).
"This week is going to be a lot of preparation," Owusu-Anane said. "Our focus has to be the highest that it's been all year. It's kind of a fresh start. We've got an opportunity to go into a new conference and shake things up."
The Lopes practiced with focus, precise execution, unselfishness and hustle.
And they played the same way Saturday night, merging those traits into their season's finest half of basketball that sent GCU to an 82-61 victory over Coastal Carolina on Saturday night.
The memory files transferred from members-only GCU Basketball Practice Facility to sold-out Global Credit Union Arena in a basketball cloud that rained on Coastal Carolina (6-5) for a 52-25 first half. The margin matched the second-largest halftime lead of GCU's Division I era (since 2013-14)."This is, in my mind, our most pleasing game all year," Lopes head coach Bryce Drew said.
The timing was ideal with it being GCU's final game before beginning its first Mountain West season with a trip to Wyoming (8-2) for next Saturday's conference opener. The Lopes come out of a winding six weeks with the same 10-game record (6-4) as last season's eventual NCAA Tournament qualifier.
Coastal Carolina ranked second nationally in defensive rebounds per game, but GCU grabbed twice as many rebounds in the first half and finished with a 20-7 advantage in second-chance points. The Chanticleers were allowing 70 points per game, and the Lopes passed that threshold with 8:24 remaining.
GCU also committed only five turnovers for its lowest total against a Division I opponent since March 2024. The Lopes have dished out at least 19 assists in consecutive games for the first time since the 2020-21 season.
"We've talked about this team's ability to pass and space," Drew said. "When we're playing at our best, we're assisting other players and helping them get open shots. The last two games, probably the reason our offense has been much more successful is because we're taking care of the ball better and making easier, smarter decisions."
GCU junior guard Makaih Williams has exemplified that, recording five assists off the bench in each of the past two games with only one turnover total. He nearly led the Lopes in every major category Saturday night, scoring 16 points to be two shy of junior guard Caleb Shaw's 18 points and grabbing six rebounds to be two shy of graduate center Wilhelm Breidenbach's eight rebounds (six offensive)."We take pride in the small details, like crashing the glass and guarding the ball," Williams said. "That's what the best teams do, so we've got to do it."
Shaw posted the best two-game scoring total of his career, scoring 18 on Saturday night to follow up his 19-point game in his first start of the season last Saturday against Oklahoma State.
Williams and Shaw, the team's only rotation returnees, were key parts of the 19-2 run that distanced GCU from Coastal Carolina in the first half. The Lopes held the Chanticleers to two points over approximately six minutes and hustled to keep one possession alive for six shots.
The GCU staff charts 50-50 balls, and Drew said the Lopes won 18 of 25 chances Saturday night.
"They were first to the floor," Drew said. "It was just really good to see the effort from everyone."
Williams scored seven points during that 19-2 run, including a 3-pointer and pull-up jumper consecutively. GCU senior guard Jaden Henley's steal led to Shaw drawing a fastbreak foul for two free throws and a 29-12 Lopes lead with 8:55 until halftime.
GCU used Coastal Carolina's propensity for fouls and defended one-on-one well with strong help efforts against Chanticleer guards for a 17-4 advantage in free throw points.
Lopes junior guard Dusty Stromer hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to put GCU ahead 52-25 at halftime. The Lopes had only shot 42.5% from the field in the first half, but they were tilting the scoreboard on points off second chances (18-3) and free throws (11-1).
"You watch film from tonight and watch film from a month ago, you probably wouldn't recognize the team," Drew said. "I think we're completely different offensively and defensively. I think these guys are much more comfortable out there. They're understanding the schemes better. They're executing really well."
The hig
h standard was difficult to maintain in the second half, but GCU never allowed Coastal Carolina to threaten the large margin. The Chanticleers feature three 15-point backcourt scorers, but only Joshua Beedle hurt the Lopes with 18 points. The rest of Beedle's team went 16 for 50 (32%) from the field.GCU graduate power forward Nana Owusu-Anane followed the coaches' guidance to play more decisively on offense and put up a nine-point, four-rebound first half. He stepped into pockets for mid-range shots when Coastal Carolina's big men dropped back, and he stretched the defense with a pair of 3-pointers.
"You've got to find a balance between being aggressive and knowing when to take a step back in a way," Owusu-Anane said. "On this team, when I play well, I think our team as a whole plays well. I just have to continue to find my groove to help our team win."
After an unusual December week of three two-a-day practice sessions (Drew's "favorite week all year," Shaw said), the Lopes get another week of preparation for next Saturday's Mountain West debut at Wyoming. The Cowboys (8-2) are 8-0 at home and have the conference's second-best NET ranking (No. 61).
"This week is going to be a lot of preparation," Owusu-Anane said. "Our focus has to be the highest that it's been all year. It's kind of a fresh start. We've got an opportunity to go into a new conference and shake things up."
Team Stats
CCU
GCU
FG%
.373
.368
3FG%
.318
.300
FT%
.500
.850
RB
33
54
TO
4
5
STL
3
2
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballGCU Men's Basketball vs. Coastal Carolina - Postgame Radio with Bryce Drew
Sunday, December 14
GCU Men's Basketball vs. Coastal Carolina - Highlights
Sunday, December 14
Celly in the hallway! Lopes win!
Sunday, December 14
GCU Men's Basketball vs. Coastal Carolina - Postgame with Bryce Drew
Sunday, December 14