Completed Event: Men's Basketball at UNLV on February 7, 2026 , Loss , 78, to, 80
M Basketball
at UNLV
L 78-80
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Photo by: David Kadlubowski
MW quarterfinal rapid recap: Nevada 84, GCU 80
3/12/2026 4:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
Teams set MW Championship record with 86 free throw attempts
LAS VEGAS – Grand Canyon lost a game it led at halftime for the first time this season at the most inopportune time, eliminating the Lopes from the Mountain West Championship with an 84-80 loss Thursday to Nevada at Thomas & Mack Center.
Fourth-seeded GCU (20-12) never trailed in the first half and led by as many as 11 points, but fifth-seeded Nevada (21-12) scored 50 second-half points in a game that set a Mountain West Championship record for free throw attempts with 86 combined.
The Lopes trailed for the final 11:42 of the game with the Wolf Pack getting a 15-point second half from junior guard Corey Camper Jr. and a 14-point second half from junior guard Vaughn Weems, with the duo going a combined 18 for 20 on free throws in the game. In GCU's Division I era, Nevada set opponent records with 45 free throws attempts (previously 41 at New Mexico State in 2021-22) and 36 made free throws (previously 31 in 2015-16 vs. Omaha in overtime).
Thursday's free throw attempt total was 13 more than the previous Mountain West Championship record for a regulation-length game of 73, set in 2007 by BYU and Wyoming.
Beyond this season, GCU had won 36 consecutive games that it led at halftime for what was the second-longest active streak in Division I to McNeese State.
GCU junior guard Makaih Williams had his second-highest scoring game of the season with 25 points, eight of which came in the final 14.1 seconds when the Lopes were making a frantic comeback attempt.
The Long Beach, California, native went 6 for 13 from the field, including 3 for 6 on 3-pointers, and 10 for 14 on free throws. He added four assists, two rebounds and a blocked shot in 36 minutes.
Nevada found Camper for an open 3-pointer on the first play before senior guard Tayshawn Comer drover for a score an Weems added a go-ahead fastbreak layup off Camer's steal from senior guard Jaden Henley's dribble.
Nevada made 28 of 34 (84.2%) at the charity stripe in the second half while GCU went 15 for 27 (55.6%). On a Nevada flagrant foul, the Lopes came away from a potential four-point possession with one points on four free throw attempts to leave the game tied with 16:38 to go.
"The goal is the NCAA Tournament," Drew said. "In this day, you don't know how long you're going to have guys on your roster and, to be honest, how many guys really want to play if it's not the NCAA Tournament. So we'll evaluate all that."
Return to gculopes.com for Paul Coro's full game story with quotes from Drew and players.
Fourth-seeded GCU (20-12) never trailed in the first half and led by as many as 11 points, but fifth-seeded Nevada (21-12) scored 50 second-half points in a game that set a Mountain West Championship record for free throw attempts with 86 combined.
The Lopes trailed for the final 11:42 of the game with the Wolf Pack getting a 15-point second half from junior guard Corey Camper Jr. and a 14-point second half from junior guard Vaughn Weems, with the duo going a combined 18 for 20 on free throws in the game. In GCU's Division I era, Nevada set opponent records with 45 free throws attempts (previously 41 at New Mexico State in 2021-22) and 36 made free throws (previously 31 in 2015-16 vs. Omaha in overtime).
Thursday's free throw attempt total was 13 more than the previous Mountain West Championship record for a regulation-length game of 73, set in 2007 by BYU and Wyoming.
Beyond this season, GCU had won 36 consecutive games that it led at halftime for what was the second-longest active streak in Division I to McNeese State.
Key player
GCU junior guard Makaih Williams had his second-highest scoring game of the season with 25 points, eight of which came in the final 14.1 seconds when the Lopes were making a frantic comeback attempt.The Long Beach, California, native went 6 for 13 from the field, including 3 for 6 on 3-pointers, and 10 for 14 on free throws. He added four assists, two rebounds and a blocked shot in 36 minutes.
Key moment
The Lopes led 40-34 at halftime but surrendered an 8-0 Wolf Pack run to start the second half, including the first seven Nevada points coming in a minute and 25 seconds.Nevada found Camper for an open 3-pointer on the first play before senior guard Tayshawn Comer drover for a score an Weems added a go-ahead fastbreak layup off Camer's steal from senior guard Jaden Henley's dribble.
Key statistic
With a record number of free throws taken, Nevada's conversion rate was vastly superior in the second half to prove to be the difference.Nevada made 28 of 34 (84.2%) at the charity stripe in the second half while GCU went 15 for 27 (55.6%). On a Nevada flagrant foul, the Lopes came away from a potential four-point possession with one points on four free throw attempts to leave the game tied with 16:38 to go.
Quotable
GCU head coach Bryce Drew: "if you shoot like you should and 7 or 8 of those (free throws) you make, you know we have a five-, six-point lead, and we have momentum and they're chasing us. It was devastating for us, not only from missing them point-wise, but also emotionally when you go 2 for 10 with an one-and-one in the meat of the game when you're trying to take control of it."What's next?
The Lopes will evaluate whether it wants to participate in any possible postseason tournament opportunities."The goal is the NCAA Tournament," Drew said. "In this day, you don't know how long you're going to have guys on your roster and, to be honest, how many guys really want to play if it's not the NCAA Tournament. So we'll evaluate all that."
Return to gculopes.com for Paul Coro's full game story with quotes from Drew and players.
Players Mentioned
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