(Phoenix, AZ) Grand Canyon does not like other teams coming into GCU Arena wearing its color.
After routing fellow 2021 NCAA tournament team Abilene Christian by 27 on Thursday night, GCU put on an even better show for an ESPNU audience Saturday night with an 80-59 victory against Tarleton.
The Havocs student section was decked out in neon with a sign reading, “Welcome to the party, ESPN,” and the Lopes were just as bright in creating the festive environment with another dominant performance. GCU (14-2, 5-0 WAC) reamined in a WAC first-place tie with New Mexico State by winning its seventh consecutive game and rolling in the past three games by an average of 20.7 points.
The Lopes dominated both sides of the floor, maintaining their most efficient offensive play of the season. After shooting 58% and 63% in its previous two wins, GCU shot 54% on Saturday night with enough highlights to fill a SportsCenter Top 10 for the crowd of 7,499, the third-largest in GCU basketball history.
Beyond that, the Lopes defense dug in to keep an opponent without a made 3-pointer for the second time in their Division I era. Tarleton (8-11, 3-3 WAC) went 0 for 10 from 3-point range and shot 42.6% from the field to move GCU’s home record to 10-1 this season.
The Lopes’ dominance of the boards (37-29) helped create transition opportunities that fed the offensive efficiency. Graduate swingman Sean Miller-Moore led GCU with 18 points with 8-of-10 shooting, featuring alleyoops, backdoor layups and a 3-pointer as he honored what would have been former teammate Oscar Frayer’s 24th birthday.
GCU power forward Gabe McGlothan was a staggering plus-31 in 21 minutes of play, racking up a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Again, the Lopes’ depth made it a blowout as sophomore guard Chance McMillian came off the bench with a career-high four 3-pointers for 12 points in 19 minutes.
Junior point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr. emerged with a focus that sent the Lopes out to a 24-9 lead on a Tarleton team that had challenged Gonzaga, Michigan and Stanford on the road this season. Blacksher scored or assisted on 12 of GCU’s first 19 points as it built a 24-9 lead when the Texans went through a 2-for-12 shooting stretch.
Blacksher also made four 3-pointers, as GCU hit at least nine 3s in its fourth consecutive game for the first time in the program’s Division I history. GCU went 12 for 28 on 3s with 19 assists on the team’s 33 made field goals. Graduate guard Holland Woods II delivered seven assists without a turnover.
Press Release courtesy of Grand Canyon University Athletics – Paul Coro
