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, February 1
Phoenix, Ariz.
6 p.m.
Grand Canyon
17-5,7-1WAC
75
vs
57
Utah Valley
15-7,7-1WAC
1
2
F
Utah Valley
24
33
57
Grand Canyon
37
38
75
Photo by: David Kadlubowski
Vengeful win pulls GCU even for 1st place in WAC
2/1/2025 10:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
Lopes win 11th in 12 games, end Wolverines' 10-game win streak
Since before the season, the WAC championship map showed a path that requires navigating a trip through Grand Canyon.
Utah Valley found that road closed Saturday night, when the Lopes redirected the conference leaders with a defensive detour and resounding roadblock at sold-out Global Credit Union Arena.
Beneath its 2024 conference championship banner, GCU reminded the WAC of its potential by cruising to a 75-57 home victory against Utah Valley that tied the teams for first place.
The Lopes (17-5, 7-1 WAC) hit the conference season's midpoint by avenging its only loss in the last 12 games. GCU lost 72-64 at Utah Valley at Jan. 9 and watched the entire game together the following day. Since then, the Lopes have won six consecutive games by an average of 18 points.
None have been more convincing of an in-season Lopes turnaround than ending the Wolverines' 10-game winning streak and holding them to their worst shooting game of the season – 32.8%. Defense has been the linchpin of the 11-1 stretch since mid-December and has been joined by improved offensive efficiency – 50.2% shooting over the six-game winning streak.
"We were really connected tonight," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "I thought guys played with a lot of joy out there. They were excited for each other, and we played hard. We really played hard. Our depth really helped us, subbing in and trying to keep the defense as hard as it could be."
It showed. Utah Valley (15-7, 7-1 WAC) went 2 for 10 from the field with three turnovers over the first seven minutes, but the Lopes' wire-to-wire win did not break open until midway through the first half. Leading 17-15, GCU shut out Utah Valley for five minutes and went on a 9-0 run with five of graduate swingman Tyon Grant-Foster's 16 points, which came in 24 minutes off the bench.
Repeating Thursday's winning formula, the Lopes overcome another off-night from 3-point range (4 for 17) by scoring 46 points in the paint – GCU's season high against a Division I opponent.
After an 11-point first half and Havocs rousing from Grant-Foster, the Lopes kept a double-digit lead for the entire second half by holding Utah Valley shooting guard Tanner Toolson scoreless until 1:12 remained, keeping WAC assists leader Trevan Leonhardt to two assists and making Dominick Nelson a low-percentage shooting (5 for 14) to get his team-best 16 points.
"I thought we played even better than the first half, which was really encouraging," Drew said.
GCU's big-man tandem of senior power forward JaKobe Coles and junior center Duke Brennan continued its dominant roll. Defensively, they followed holding Utah Valley center Carter Welling to 2-of-10 shooting in the first meeting with his 3-for-12 game Saturday night.
Coles scored eight points in the loss at Utah Valley but has averaged 16 points during the six-game winning streak. Brennan, whose ball-tracking and boxing out is making him a national top-25 rebounder, recorded his sixth double-double in the past nine games with a 10-point, 12-rebound game against Utah Valley.
"We've been practicing so hard since the loss in the Utah Valley game that we were ready for this game coming in," Brennan said. "We built up all those weeks for some revenge because we felt like we didn't play up to our standard. We went out there and set the standard tonight in both halves. We dominated the first half, and then we dominated the second half."
Balancing the interior play of Brennan, Coles and graduate power forward Lok Wur (nine points, eight rebounds off the bench), the game swung on the perimeter with the higher, more intense ball pressure that GCU implemented to disrupt Utah Valley's offense and the penetrating quickness of the Lopes guards.
"Ever since we lost, we flipped the switch and started doing stuff new," GCU sophomore guard Makaih Williams said. "We're just playing harder, practicing harder and we got it done tonight, but we've got to keep our foot on the gas.
"Since the loss (at Utah Valley), that's been the motivation. We know we can win. We know we can win the WAC. But we've just got to remember who we are, honestly. Give glory to God and just keep on playing hard and practicing hard."
The game opened with Williams getting a blow-by lefthanded layups and his change-of-speed drives continued to undo Utah Valley's defense. Williams scored 16 points, making 5 of 8 shots from the field and 6 of 6 from the free throw line.
"Makaih can get past anybody," Grant-Foster said. "I'm super good at getting to the rim and drawing fouls. Everybody knows 'Bigtime' (Ray Harrison)."
In breaking down the Wolverines, the guards have a second layer of help once they break free with their first-step speed or a high screen. Brennan's 6-foot-10, 250-pound frame seals off would-be help defenders.
"We get past people, but we finish because of him," Grant-Foster said, pointing to Brennan. "His seals are amazing. I know I had a layup that was so easy. I held it in one hand because he moved them out of the way."
Drew said the past three days had been emotional, winning a nationally televised game with a 9 p.m. tipoff Thursday night while fending off the anticipation of catching Utah Valley with a win Saturday night. In between, they watched game video longer than they practiced Friday in order to save their energy for a game that squares up the Lopes and Wolverines for an eight-game race to the finish.
The game even ended on an upswing with the Havocs' chants for fan favorite Jason Amador being answered and then some. Against Utah Valley's full-court press, Williams broke it on the dribble and hit Amador in the corner for his first GCU 3-pointer.
"It's fun to see the guys get better," Drew said. "Seeing them getting better individually, seeing our team get better and seeing the connectivity with them on both ends of the court. It definitely starts on defense. Usually when our defense has been good, it's definitely helped our offense. Guys are moving the ball better."
Utah Valley found that road closed Saturday night, when the Lopes redirected the conference leaders with a defensive detour and resounding roadblock at sold-out Global Credit Union Arena.
Beneath its 2024 conference championship banner, GCU reminded the WAC of its potential by cruising to a 75-57 home victory against Utah Valley that tied the teams for first place.
The Lopes (17-5, 7-1 WAC) hit the conference season's midpoint by avenging its only loss in the last 12 games. GCU lost 72-64 at Utah Valley at Jan. 9 and watched the entire game together the following day. Since then, the Lopes have won six consecutive games by an average of 18 points.
None have been more convincing of an in-season Lopes turnaround than ending the Wolverines' 10-game winning streak and holding them to their worst shooting game of the season – 32.8%. Defense has been the linchpin of the 11-1 stretch since mid-December and has been joined by improved offensive efficiency – 50.2% shooting over the six-game winning streak.
"We were really connected tonight," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "I thought guys played with a lot of joy out there. They were excited for each other, and we played hard. We really played hard. Our depth really helped us, subbing in and trying to keep the defense as hard as it could be."It showed. Utah Valley (15-7, 7-1 WAC) went 2 for 10 from the field with three turnovers over the first seven minutes, but the Lopes' wire-to-wire win did not break open until midway through the first half. Leading 17-15, GCU shut out Utah Valley for five minutes and went on a 9-0 run with five of graduate swingman Tyon Grant-Foster's 16 points, which came in 24 minutes off the bench.
Repeating Thursday's winning formula, the Lopes overcome another off-night from 3-point range (4 for 17) by scoring 46 points in the paint – GCU's season high against a Division I opponent.
After an 11-point first half and Havocs rousing from Grant-Foster, the Lopes kept a double-digit lead for the entire second half by holding Utah Valley shooting guard Tanner Toolson scoreless until 1:12 remained, keeping WAC assists leader Trevan Leonhardt to two assists and making Dominick Nelson a low-percentage shooting (5 for 14) to get his team-best 16 points.
"I thought we played even better than the first half, which was really encouraging," Drew said.
GCU's big-man tandem of senior power forward JaKobe Coles and junior center Duke Brennan continued its dominant roll. Defensively, they followed holding Utah Valley center Carter Welling to 2-of-10 shooting in the first meeting with his 3-for-12 game Saturday night.Coles scored eight points in the loss at Utah Valley but has averaged 16 points during the six-game winning streak. Brennan, whose ball-tracking and boxing out is making him a national top-25 rebounder, recorded his sixth double-double in the past nine games with a 10-point, 12-rebound game against Utah Valley.
"We've been practicing so hard since the loss in the Utah Valley game that we were ready for this game coming in," Brennan said. "We built up all those weeks for some revenge because we felt like we didn't play up to our standard. We went out there and set the standard tonight in both halves. We dominated the first half, and then we dominated the second half."
Balancing the interior play of Brennan, Coles and graduate power forward Lok Wur (nine points, eight rebounds off the bench), the game swung on the perimeter with the higher, more intense ball pressure that GCU implemented to disrupt Utah Valley's offense and the penetrating quickness of the Lopes guards.
"Ever since we lost, we flipped the switch and started doing stuff new," GCU sophomore guard Makaih Williams said. "We're just playing harder, practicing harder and we got it done tonight, but we've got to keep our foot on the gas."Since the loss (at Utah Valley), that's been the motivation. We know we can win. We know we can win the WAC. But we've just got to remember who we are, honestly. Give glory to God and just keep on playing hard and practicing hard."
The game opened with Williams getting a blow-by lefthanded layups and his change-of-speed drives continued to undo Utah Valley's defense. Williams scored 16 points, making 5 of 8 shots from the field and 6 of 6 from the free throw line.
"Makaih can get past anybody," Grant-Foster said. "I'm super good at getting to the rim and drawing fouls. Everybody knows 'Bigtime' (Ray Harrison)."
In breaking down the Wolverines, the guards have a second layer of help once they break free with their first-step speed or a high screen. Brennan's 6-foot-10, 250-pound frame seals off would-be help defenders.
"We get past people, but we finish because of him," Grant-Foster said, pointing to Brennan. "His seals are amazing. I know I had a layup that was so easy. I held it in one hand because he moved them out of the way."
Drew said the past three days had been emotional, winning a nationally televised game with a 9 p.m. tipoff Thursday night while fending off the anticipation of catching Utah Valley with a win Saturday night. In between, they watched game video longer than they practiced Friday in order to save their energy for a game that squares up the Lopes and Wolverines for an eight-game race to the finish.
The game even ended on an upswing with the Havocs' chants for fan favorite Jason Amador being answered and then some. Against Utah Valley's full-court press, Williams broke it on the dribble and hit Amador in the corner for his first GCU 3-pointer.
"It's fun to see the guys get better," Drew said. "Seeing them getting better individually, seeing our team get better and seeing the connectivity with them on both ends of the court. It definitely starts on defense. Usually when our defense has been good, it's definitely helped our offense. Guys are moving the ball better."
Team Stats
UVU
GCU
FG%
.328
.476
3FG%
.222
.235
FT%
.733
.846
RB
33
42
TO
13
14
STL
4
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
15
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
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