After losing its last two games on the road all Grand Canyon University (12-10, 3-2 WAC) needed was a little home cooking as they beat Missouri-Kansas City (8-14, 3-2 WAC) 78-57 Thursday night at the GCU Arena in Phoenix. The Lopes blistered the nets in the first half on the way to the rout ending the ‘Roos three-game winning streak.
Grand Canyon’s Daniel Alexander, who has found success coming off the bench, had a season high 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting and 10 boards. Joshua Braun led GCU with 20 points and he had his career high night rebounding with 10. De’Andre Davis also added 12 points and really added a spark off the bench driving to the basket all game long.
Kansas City was led by Martez Harrison with 13 points, five points off of his 18.2 average. Reese Holiday added 12 points and Deshon Taylor finished the game with 10 points for the ‘Roos.
GCU led the entire game and went up by 20 points over the final few minutes of the first half on a 10-0 run taking a 43-23 lead into halftime. Second half saw much of the same as the Lopes went up at one point 68-40. The ‘Roos tried to make it close, closing the gap to 15 but GCU held UMKC scoreless over the final two minutes of the game for the victory. The Lopes shot 51.1 percent (24-of-47) from the floor. GCU also went 9-of-16 (56.3 percent) from the three-point line. UMKC shot 40.4 percent (21-of-52). The Lopes also controlled the boards with a 41-25 advantage over the ‘Roos.
Grand Canyon will stay home for a game with Chicago State on Jan. 31 at 7:00 pm. Kansas City will travel to Utah Valley on Jan. 31st for a game with the Wolverines.
NOTES:
GCU guard DeWayne Russell left the game in the second half after limping off the court. He also went down after taking an offensive foul in the first half.
Presidential hopeful Dr. Ben Carlson was at GCU Arena and spoke the crowd after the game.