Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus Colorado State on January 3, 2026 , Loss , 60, to, 70
M Basketball
vs Colorado State
L 60-70
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: David Kadlubowski
Blockbuster game unveils 7-2 Evans' impact
1/19/2026 4:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro, Lopes Insider Blog
Center set GCU D-I era record with 6 blocks in win vs. No. 23 Utah State
The victorious box score for a Grand Canyon upset of No. 23 Utah State includes a points column that only reflects what each Lopes player added to the score.
It does not reflect how many points 7-foot-2 redshirt freshman Dennis Evans prevented No. 23 Utah State from scoring in the Lopes' 84-74 upset win on Saturday.
With the 7-7 wingspan of a swan, Evans could pluck a dime off the top of a refrigerator – stacked on top of another refrigerator (he leaps to touch 12 feet, 6 inches).
That translates to the basketball game-changing impact that Evans made Saturday, when he set a GCU Division I-era record with six blocked shots in 19 minutes. Beyond that, Evans was a shot-swatting threat who affected at least four other Utah State misses.
The Aggies shots that were blocked or changed by Evans were high-percentage attempts in the paint that could have added 20 points for Utah State. Instead, it amounted to 10 misses that dropped Aggies shooting to 36.2%.
"You see Wemby doing all that stuff," GCU guard Makaih Williams said of San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama. "We've got Dennis."
Just as college basketball was buzzing about the Lopes' electric win, Evans was a power-line tower with a career performance of five points, five rebounds, six blocked shots and a steal off the bench.
"The feeling was surreal," said Evans, who was swarmed by celebratory fellow GCU students during the court storm. "It was a lot of fun being able to go out there and make that big of an impact during our game, as big as it was with all the fans. The court storm was a lot of fun. It was crazy, for sure."
Evans joined GCU for the fall of 2024, but the Riverside, California, native needed to rehabilitate a shoulder injury. As he approached a midseason comeback last year, Evans aggravated the shoulder and took a medical redshirt season.
Evans' offseason dedication translated into improved upper-body strength on the 7-2, 240-pound frame of "Big Spectacle," who quickly endeared himself to Havocs for his eye-goggles look and Lope Nation for his life-size cutout in the Global Credit Union Arena lobby.
The 20-year-old had only logged 40 minutes this season until playing 19 pivotal minutes on Saturday, but the build-up included a memorable stint when he blocked three shots in 11 seconds against San José State a week earlier.
That defining moment lasted a week as his career blocks high. Evans, playing pain-free, made a national splash Saturday on an FS1 game live and the ESPN SportsCenter highlights later with a block that he swallowed with his hand like a raptor capturing a flying insect.
"I was in the zone for that one," Evans said. "I wasn't thinking. As soon I went up, my hand curled around it and I brought it down to my chest. It was funny because in the moment that I brought it down, I thought, 'Did I just do that?' "
The film study on opponent tendencies and court work with GCU coaches on timing have created a rim protector, giving GCU two 7-foot-plus centers wtih freshman Efe Demirel.
Evans increased the value of his blocked shots by directing them for the Lopes to have possession. He either swatted the shot to a teammate or controlled the ball with a deflection off the backboard, a volley to himself or the mid-air snatch.
"I can't do it every time, but the more I can do it, the more we can get the ball and get it running," Evans said.
Evans also affected the game in other areas, shielding a driving lane for a Nana Owusu-Anane score on his first play on the floor. His first blocked shot came moments later when Evans started above the free throw line, switched onto speedy Aggies guard Elijah Perryman, backtracked to the restricted area arc and swatted Perryman's shot to teammate Jaden Henley.
The undersized Aggies missed several shots trying to adjust to Evans' presence and appeared to miss more because of the thought of Evans trailing the play. He blocked Utah State guard Mason Falslev four times, a great value considering Falslev was 8 of 17 from the field otherwise. The game fittingly ended with Evans controlling the ball after his final block on Falslev.
"What a great story," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "He hasn't played much. He works out. He works hard in practice. He wanted the opportunity. He was ready when the opportunity came. And he was just spectacular on the defensive end. You can count the blocks he had, but then how many did they miss because maybe they were looking at him or looking for him. I'm so happy for Dennis to have such a great game."
Utah State head coach Jerrod Calhoun credited GCU's size for wearing down Utah State, which never rallied to a tie or lead in the second half. One of Utah State's second-half shots to tie was a post-up attempt that bricked off the backboard because of an adjustment over Evans' outstretched arms.
"It's all adding up," Evans said. "I'm just glad I decided to stick with the program and continue doing my extra work. Even when I'm tired, I still come in and do my extra lifts to make sure I'm progressing. it's crazy to see how it all comes together after the ups and downs and the days that seem like they are very tough. I just love to see it all come together."
The Lopes (11-6, 4-2 MW) remain on the FS1 broadcast ledger Wednesday night, when "The Biggest Party in College Basketball" will be on display again for a key Mountain West game against San Diego State (13-4, 7-0 MW). Tipoff will be at 9 p.m. Phoenix time.
It does not reflect how many points 7-foot-2 redshirt freshman Dennis Evans prevented No. 23 Utah State from scoring in the Lopes' 84-74 upset win on Saturday.
With the 7-7 wingspan of a swan, Evans could pluck a dime off the top of a refrigerator – stacked on top of another refrigerator (he leaps to touch 12 feet, 6 inches).That translates to the basketball game-changing impact that Evans made Saturday, when he set a GCU Division I-era record with six blocked shots in 19 minutes. Beyond that, Evans was a shot-swatting threat who affected at least four other Utah State misses.
The Aggies shots that were blocked or changed by Evans were high-percentage attempts in the paint that could have added 20 points for Utah State. Instead, it amounted to 10 misses that dropped Aggies shooting to 36.2%.
"You see Wemby doing all that stuff," GCU guard Makaih Williams said of San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama. "We've got Dennis."
Just as college basketball was buzzing about the Lopes' electric win, Evans was a power-line tower with a career performance of five points, five rebounds, six blocked shots and a steal off the bench.
"The feeling was surreal," said Evans, who was swarmed by celebratory fellow GCU students during the court storm. "It was a lot of fun being able to go out there and make that big of an impact during our game, as big as it was with all the fans. The court storm was a lot of fun. It was crazy, for sure."
Evans joined GCU for the fall of 2024, but the Riverside, California, native needed to rehabilitate a shoulder injury. As he approached a midseason comeback last year, Evans aggravated the shoulder and took a medical redshirt season.Evans' offseason dedication translated into improved upper-body strength on the 7-2, 240-pound frame of "Big Spectacle," who quickly endeared himself to Havocs for his eye-goggles look and Lope Nation for his life-size cutout in the Global Credit Union Arena lobby.
The 20-year-old had only logged 40 minutes this season until playing 19 pivotal minutes on Saturday, but the build-up included a memorable stint when he blocked three shots in 11 seconds against San José State a week earlier.
That defining moment lasted a week as his career blocks high. Evans, playing pain-free, made a national splash Saturday on an FS1 game live and the ESPN SportsCenter highlights later with a block that he swallowed with his hand like a raptor capturing a flying insect.
"I was in the zone for that one," Evans said. "I wasn't thinking. As soon I went up, my hand curled around it and I brought it down to my chest. It was funny because in the moment that I brought it down, I thought, 'Did I just do that?' "
The film study on opponent tendencies and court work with GCU coaches on timing have created a rim protector, giving GCU two 7-foot-plus centers wtih freshman Efe Demirel.
Evans increased the value of his blocked shots by directing them for the Lopes to have possession. He either swatted the shot to a teammate or controlled the ball with a deflection off the backboard, a volley to himself or the mid-air snatch.
"I can't do it every time, but the more I can do it, the more we can get the ball and get it running," Evans said.Evans also affected the game in other areas, shielding a driving lane for a Nana Owusu-Anane score on his first play on the floor. His first blocked shot came moments later when Evans started above the free throw line, switched onto speedy Aggies guard Elijah Perryman, backtracked to the restricted area arc and swatted Perryman's shot to teammate Jaden Henley.
The undersized Aggies missed several shots trying to adjust to Evans' presence and appeared to miss more because of the thought of Evans trailing the play. He blocked Utah State guard Mason Falslev four times, a great value considering Falslev was 8 of 17 from the field otherwise. The game fittingly ended with Evans controlling the ball after his final block on Falslev.
"What a great story," GCU head coach Bryce Drew said. "He hasn't played much. He works out. He works hard in practice. He wanted the opportunity. He was ready when the opportunity came. And he was just spectacular on the defensive end. You can count the blocks he had, but then how many did they miss because maybe they were looking at him or looking for him. I'm so happy for Dennis to have such a great game."
Utah State head coach Jerrod Calhoun credited GCU's size for wearing down Utah State, which never rallied to a tie or lead in the second half. One of Utah State's second-half shots to tie was a post-up attempt that bricked off the backboard because of an adjustment over Evans' outstretched arms.
"It's all adding up," Evans said. "I'm just glad I decided to stick with the program and continue doing my extra work. Even when I'm tired, I still come in and do my extra lifts to make sure I'm progressing. it's crazy to see how it all comes together after the ups and downs and the days that seem like they are very tough. I just love to see it all come together."
The Lopes (11-6, 4-2 MW) remain on the FS1 broadcast ledger Wednesday night, when "The Biggest Party in College Basketball" will be on display again for a key Mountain West game against San Diego State (13-4, 7-0 MW). Tipoff will be at 9 p.m. Phoenix time.
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/ Men's BasketballGCU Men's Basketball vs. #23 Utah State - Highlights
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