Instead, GCU came out with a 50-point typhoon in the second half Saturday and beat LMU 78-72 at Gersten Pavilion.
The Lopes were predictably carried by their stalwart guards, junior Jovan Blacksher Jr. and graduate Holland Woods, who scored 20 and 24 points, respectively, and each played more than 38 of the 40 minutes. Woods sparked the second-half surge with the Lopes’ first eight points after halftime but it was GCU senior reserve forward Taeshon Cherry who lifted GCU to its best level of the season.
After having a season breakthrough with his play in a Saturday win at Pepperdine, Cherry posted a seven-point, five-rebound, four-steal, three-assist second half and posted a game line of 12 points, six steals, five rebounds and four assists in 23 minutes.
LMU’s physical play unsettled GCU in the first half, but the Lopes gave more hits than they took in the second half. Woods connected on his third 3-pointer of the second half for GCU’s first second-half lead at 48-46.
It turned into a battle from there, but Cherry created some space for the Lopes when he strung together huge moments with a fadeaway follow, a post-up, a steal and two free throws to put the Lopes ahead 61-54 with 5:17 to play against a Lions team predicted to finish in the West Coast Conference’s top three.
The Lions never pulled back within a possession from there with Cherry finding Blacksher for a fastbreak score and Blacksher getting another driving score off Sean Miller-Moore’s offensive rebounds, one of his team-high eight rebounds and the Lopes’ 13 offensive boards. GCU outscored LMU 17-2 on second-chance points and 23-8 on points off turnovers with the Lions committing 17 turnovers.
Twice down the stretch, GCU kept LMU at bay with Miller-Moore getting ahead of the Lions for a fastbreak alleyoop finish and a breakaway layup.
GCU knew it would be in an energy-and-aggression matchup with LMU on Monday night and emerged from the locker room with the requisite energy to compete. The Lopes attacked the lane and rim on the first two possessions for scores and hit their only two 3-pointers of the first half successively for a 10-5 lead.
GCU head coach Bryce Drew shuffled in 11 players in the game’s first seven minutes and eventually used 12 Lopes in the first half when sophomore guard Liam Lloyd made a rare rotation appearance for a significant impact.
But GCU’s otherwise cold perimeter shooting sent the offense into a funk after that 10-5 lead. The Lopes went through an eight-minute stretch in which they missed 10 consecutive shots while also making four turnovers. Meanwhile, LMU was scoring easily, whether it be using the turnovers for transition scores or getting into the paint with post-ups, drives and backdoor cuts.
LMU took a 29-18 lead before GCU found traction by getting back to the rim. The Lopes scored 10 points in the first half’s final four minutes with junior guard Jovan Blacksher Jr. and junior power forward Gabe McGlothan each scoring twice by going into attack mode. The Lions led 33-28 at halftime with GCU surviving by scoring seven second-chance points and not allowing one.
Press Release courtesy of Grand Canyon Athletics – Paul Coro
