Grand Canyon basketball routs Utah Valley, owns nation's best winning percentage
Grand Canyon has the best winning percentage in men's college basketball (.913) after pulling away at Utah Valley for an 86-67 WAC rout on Saturday that improved the Antelopes to 21-2 on the season.
This is their best record after 23 games since the 1975-76 season, when they were in the NAIA. GCU's best-ever start to a season came during the 1973-74 season when it was 25-0.
The Lopes missed their first 11 3-point tries Saturday before reserve Lok Wur came in and nailed two 3-pointers, followed by a Ray Harrison 3, allowing the Lopes to start to put some distance on Utah Valley (9-13, 4-7) in the last three minutes of the first half.
They shot 42% in the first half, much better than their last two road wins, pulling out tight victories over Stephen F. Austin and UT Arlington despite shooting 30% in those games.
In the second half GCU shot 54% and went to the free-throw line 25 times, making 20. The Lopes scored 54 points in the second half, the fifth most in the Division I era. After making 3 of 16 3-pointesr in the first half, they made all six of their 3-point tries in the second half.
"Pretty much all of them (in the first half), we were open, just short," coach Bryce Drew said in the postgame radio interview. "I told the guys at halftime to just keep shooting them. Thankfully, they came out and made some in a row."
Tyon Grant-Foster made only 3 of 13 field goal but he was active all game and pulled down nine rebounds and made seven of 8 free throws. He also had four steals and two blocked shots.
Because he's a prolific scorer, Grant-Foster attracts a lot of attention when he gets the ball, making it m ore difficult to knock down shots. But, during closing time, he's a beast.
"The last seven minutes, he got nearly every defensive rebound," Drew said. "He has a great talent of turning a rebounding into getting to the rim at the other end."
GCU had 10 steals and six blocked shots. Guard Collin Moore had three steals.
Wur, a 6-9 transfer from Oregon, followed up his career-high 13-point scoring night Thursday in a win over Seattle U with another 13-point game. He made three of four 3s, had four rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots.
GCU's 11-1 record in conference play is the best since joining Division I 11 years ago.
"I'm really proud of these guys," Drew said. "They knew coming in there was a big turnaround, going on the road. Guys were gassed out there. Some guys we tried to get in and out."
The Lopes get a week off before playing at home next Saturday night against Southern Utah.
Harrison led GCU in scoring for a second straight game, finishing with 21 points on 7 of 14 shooting, making three of five 3-pointers. He also had four rebounds and three assists. And he was assigned to try to contain Tanner Toolson, who had 14 points, making four of eight 3-pointers. Utah Valley was constantly setting pick to get Toolson open behind the arc.
Harrison also had no turnovers.
"When I have to guard guys like that, it puts it in perspective when guys in the league have to guard Steph Curry," Harrison said in the postgame GCU radio interview. "A lot of credit to him, he’s a great player. But it's exhausting."
Forward Gabe McGlothan was clutch in the second half with his 3-point shooting and rebounding. He made two of three 3s. He had 17 points and 11 rebounds.
McGlothan hit two straight 3-pointers to push GCU's lead back out to 10 in the second half.
After Wur starting hitting 3s near the end of the half, it became contagious.
"They were telling us the whole time, 'Keep shooting them, they're going to fall,' " Harrison said. "They did."
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: GCU alone at the top with nation's best win percentage
