In its most complete game of the season Grand Canyon University (15-11, 6-3 WAC) beat up Utah Valley University (9-15, 3-6 WAC) 83-57 Saturday night at GCU Arena in Phoenix. The Lopes were hot from the start in route to a 61.8 (34-for-55) shooting night.
“Best game by far from the tip until the end” noted GCU Coach Dan Majerle. The Lopes had five players score in double digits and were lead by DeWayne Russell who scored a game high 19 points. Jerome Garrison scored 12 points; Joshua Braun added 11 and Royce Woolridge had 10. Freshman De’Andre Davis, who has really started to play well toward the end of the season, added 14 points off the bench with 12 of them coming in the second half.
UVU was led by Zach Nelson with 17 points. Mitch Bruneel also scored 13 and Donte Williams added 10 points. The Wolverines shot 38.9 percent (21-for-51) for the contest.
GCU never trailed in the game and at one point was up 17 points 36-19 with just over 4 minutes left in the first half. UVU’s Zach Nelson had all of his points in the first half as the Lopes tightened the reigns in the second not allowing him to score again. GCU cruised through the second half and never looked back as the Wolverines could never catch up. Coach Majerle commented, “We really picked up the defense in the second half. Jerome (Garrison) took it upon him to stop Nelson and we did a good job stopping them.” The Lopes also outrebounded the Wolverines 33-24.
Grand Canyon will now host the Texas-Pan American, Thursday February 19th. Utah Valley University will go home to face WAC leader New Mexico State on February 19th.
NOTES:
The 61.8 percent from the field was the highest shooting percentage for Grand Canyon since 2007 when they were a NCAA Division II member.
The Antelopes matched their season high of 15 wins set just last year in their first season in the WAC.