Road finale's OT loss puts GCU at WAC No. 2 seed

Saturday, March 8

Abilene, Texas / Moody Coliseum

2 p.m. (MST)

Grand Canyon

23-7,13-3WAC

Abilene Christian

16-15,8-8WAC

OT 1

Grand Canyon

Abilene Christian

Photo by: David Kadlubowski

3/8/2025 8:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro

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Lopes rally multipe times, lose on Abilene Christian FTs with 2.4 seconds left

By: Paul Coro

ABILENE, Texas – Grand Canyon did not play its last big WAC game Saturday, but the Lopes hope their first tight loss of the season is the last time they lose a big WAC game.

The Lopes scrambled back from an 11-point, first-half hole to be tied at halftime and ended regulation with a 4-0 stretch to force overtime at Abilene Christian. But after a 6-0 rally put GCU ahead 81-80 in the final minute, the Wildcats won 82-81 when senior guard Hunter Jack Madden drew a foul and made two free throws with 2.4 seconds remaining at Moody Coliseum.

GCU (23-7, 13-3 WAC) will be the No. 2 seed in next week's WAC Tournament in Las Vegas with an 8:30 p.m. quarterfinal game at Orleans Arena against No. 7 seed UT Arlington (13-17, 6-10 WAC). The Lopes defeated the Mavericks twice in February.

The Lopes' final rally in overtime Saturday was not enough because of the same issues that provided Abilene Christian a large first-half lead and a late second-half rally – missed free throws and turnovers.

"When we're good, we're good," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "When we're bad, we're bad. We have some really good stretches. We look really good and then we have some stretches that we look really bad. Unfortunately on the road, that's hard to overcome."

GCU trailed 80-75 with 3:02 remaining in overtime, but the Lopes were amid three consecutive possessions in which they drew fouls but only made one of two free throws on each trip.

Seattle, WA March 1, 2025 : The Lopes fall 82-81 in overtime at ACU. David Kadlubowski/GCU

Seattle, WA March 1, 2025 : The Lopes fall 82-81 in overtime at ACU. David Kadlubowski/GCU

The Lopes defense constricted the Wildcats with five consecutive stops, enabling GCU to take an 81-80 lead after sophomore guard Makaih Williams' driving score and senior guard Ray Harrison's two free throws with 51.7 seconds remaining.

Lopes senior forward Lök Wur's stellar outing (14 points, six rebounds, four steals, two blocks) was capped when he blocked a potential go-ahead Abilene Christian shot on the ensuing possession. Leading by one with the ball and 35 seconds to go, Harrison ran down the shot clock before fouling out when he pushed off the defender with his off-hand as he pulled up for a shot with 11.7 seconds to go.

With a chance to win, Madden drove the left side into GCU defensive help, but Lopes sophomore guard Caleb Shaw was recovering from behind and was called for a foul with 2.4 seconds to go.

Madden ended the Wildcats' 19-for-20 accuracy from the free throw line by making both and fishing with a team-high 17 points in his final home game.

"I thought about how much I love this place, and I wanted to end on a win," Madden said. "They know we're coming, and we're going to go win that stuff (at the WAC Tournament)."

Seattle, WA March 1, 2025 : The Lopes fall 82-81 in overtime at ACU. David Kadlubowski/GCU

Abilene Christian ranked 232nd nationally with 70.4% shooting on the season, but GCU was closer to that Saturday at a costly 65.4% rate (17 for 26).

The Wildcats lead the nation in opponent turnovers per game (17.0), but the Lopes exceeded that with 19 turnovers, eight more than they made in Thursday's home win against Utah Tech.

The most costly run of errors halted a 15-minute stretch in which GCU had outscored Abilene Christian 33-14, starting with a 13-2 run to end the first half. Lopes freshman point guard Styles Phipps helped fuel the first-half finish with three points, three assists, three rebounds and a steal to get the game tied at 44-44.

A driving 3-point play by Harrison capped the long 19-point turnaround and put GCU ahead 64-56 with 8:04 to go, but the Lopes committed turnovers on three consecutive possessions to give away the lead.

"We talked about gambling all year," Drew said. "Those are focus things. You've got to eliminate mistakes, especially late in the year And we didn't eliminate enough mistakes to win this game."

In its first loss of eight games without top scorer Tyon Grant-Foster, GCU put five scorers in double figures and shot 48% from the field. Senior power forward JaKobe Coles led the Lopes with 17 points on 8-of-15 shooting while Harrison scored 16, making all seven of his free throws as the rest of the team went 10 for 19.

Abilene Christian (16-15, 8-8 WAC) shot 45.3% from the field, thriving off fastbreak opportunities for 23 of its points.

Seattle, WA March 1, 2025 : The Lopes fall 82-81 in overtime at ACU. David Kadlubowski/GCU

"Three stats tell the tale," Drew said. "Rebounds, 31 to 44, outrebounded by 13. That's toughness. (Making) 17 for 26 free throws, 65%. It's a lot of focus. And then 19 turnovers. Carelessness. We gave 25 points in transition. Off turnovers, we didn't sprint.

"You just can't play good for four minutes and then you know not good for the next four."

GCU picked up clutch defensive plays at the end of regulation with Coles' pass deflection and one of junior center Duke Brennan's three blocked shots. That enabled Williams to tie the game 74-74 on two free throws and gave GCU a chance to win on the last shot of regulation, but Coles' elbow fadeaway jumper rimmed out.

The Lopes program had a streak of five consecutive wins in overtime games until Saturday. This season's team was 5-0 in games decided by four points or fewer until Saturday.

"It was such a big game," Drew said. "We've got a lot of seniors playing the last regular-season game. Urgency, something that you have to have. Aggressiveness, attack mode. Overall, you have to have focus and you have to have togetherness. When we're focused and we're together, we're really good. When we have lapses in those areas for whatever reasons, we're not near the team that we are when we are focused and we're really locked in together."

With a Wednesday quarterfinal win against UT Arlington, GCU can advance to an 8:30 p.m. Friday semifinal game against the winner of No. 3 seed California Baptist and the No. 6 seed Tarleton State. The WAC Tournament championship game will be 8:30 p.m. next Saturday on ESPN 2. The Lopes are the two-time defending WAC Tournament champion and pursuing their fourth tourney title and NCAA tournament berth in the past five years.