Rapid recap: GCU 84, No. 23 Utah State 74

Saturday, January 17

Phoenix, Ariz.

12:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

11-6,4-2Mountain West

Utah State

15-2,6-1Mountain West

Utah St.

Grand Canyon

Photo by: David Kadlubowski

1/17/2026 3:34:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro

Box Score Photo Gallery

GCU's Moore, Williams each score 20 points each for home upset

By: Paul Coro

Grand Canyon trailed after the game's first basket and never again Saturday to knock off No. 23 Utah State 84-74, setting off a Havocs courtstorming celebration at Global Credit Union Arena.

The Lopes (11-6, 4-2 Mountain West) kept the nation's No. 2 field goal percentage team to 36.2% shooting and led for the final 38 1/2 minutes of the game, which drew an overflow crowd of 7,135 fans with an FS1 audience watching. Utah State (15-2, 6-1) lost for the first time since Dec. 4.

Key player

Moore GCU graduate guard Brian Moore Jr. scored a season-high 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field and 7-of-8 accuracy on free throws. The Harlem native added four assists with only one turnover and grabbed four rebounds.

Moore also had the primary assignment to defend Mountain West leading scorer MJ Collins, the Utah State senior guard was averaging 20 points per game entering Saturday. Collins, a 52% 3-point shooter, was 1 for 6 on 3s and was limited to 12 points, his second-lowest scoring game of the season.

Key moment

GCU asserted itself from the top of the game, taking an 11-4 lead over the first four-plus minutes with two fastbreak scores by senior guard Jaden Henley off his steal and graduate power forward Nana Owusu-Anane diving on the floor. Moore also scored twice during the 11-4 start with a 3-pointer and a scoring drive while being fouled.

The Lopes never trailed after the Aggies 2-0 lead, although Utah State cut the lead to one in the second half and within three points with less than five minutes to go.

Key statistic

GCU outscored Utah State 22-6 in the paint in the first half, establishing an aggression that carried over to the second half with fewer Aggies free throw points (three in the second half). The Lopes' interior defense was anchored by a career-high six blocked shots from 7-foot-2 redshirt freshman Dennis Evans off the bench.

Quotable

Lopes head coach Bryce Drew: We've had a really emotional couple days. I thought the start was just incredible. The Lord blessed us with the first shot going in from Caleb Shaw, and Nana brought some great intensity to start the game. It's such a good team. They're explosive. They press The switching defense. Our guys made a lot of really good individual plays. They made a lot of good decisions. They were patient. And the played for 40 minutes. It was really fun to watch and be part of it.

What's next?

GCU will continue its Mountain West gauntlet with another FS1 game at Global Credit Union Arena, when San Diego State brings its undefeated conference record for a 9 p.m. Wednesday clash. It is the Aztecs' first visit to GCU since the Lopes recorded their last top-25 upset against them in December 2023.

Return to gculopes.com for Paul Coro's full game story with quotes from head coach Bryce Drew and players.