GCU takes over late to win on national TV
Grand Canyon looked like it was hitting that wall again in the second half Friday night, before guards Ray Harrison and Chance McMillian and forward Gabe McGlothan bailed the Antelopes out.
The trio combined to score 68 points and led the final push to overtake Abilene Christian 94-84 before a sellout crowd of 7,438 in a late WAC men’s basketball game at GCU Arena.
The student section of 4,000-plus Havocs was at the top of its game and, for the most part, so were the Lopes in front of a national audience, with ESPNU telecasting the 9 p.m. matchup.
GCU shot a sizzling 65% in the first half and even better in the second half at 68%. It had to shoot lights out with the way the Wildcats were protecting the ball. They had only one turnover before making their second midway through the second half.
But a third late in the game — a steal by Harrison that turned into a threepoint play at the other end by McMillian — ended up huge.
Here are three takeaways from a much-needed win that snapped the Lopes’ two-game skid:
Electric crowd makes its presence felt
The late start to the ESPNU national coverage only fueled the Havocs, who filled up one side of the arena 40 minute early, and were in top form with cheers through pregame and into the contest. There was even a well-orchestrated iPhone light show throughout the darkened arena before the players took the court.
“I think the energy they brought really sustained us,” coach Bryce Drew said. “Especially when they made that run. The crowd gets into it and it just gives our guys an extra juice.”
After ACU took a 58-56 lead with 13:30 to play, Walter Ellis hit a 3-pointer that gave the Lopes back the lead. They
maintained that lead the rest of the night.
“The crowd was really into it,” McGlothan said. “GCU does it the best. That was great to see the stands full.”
‘The accountability factor’
After GCU lost a 15-point, first-half lead to UT Rio Grande Valley on
Wednesday night at home in a 77-76 loss, the Lopes had a long talk on Friday on what needs to get done to save this season. They are 17-10 overall and 9-6 in the WAC with a chance to avenge the loss at Seattle U next Friday at home. ACU fell to 15-13, 7-8, but it will be a tough out in the WAC Tournament in Las Vegas in March with its ability to pressure the ball and utilize big guys
Airion Simmons (20 points, three assists on Friday) and Joe Pleasant (11 points) around the basket and out on the perimeter with their versatile skill set.
Instead of collapsing late, the Lopes took charge, especially the big three of Harrison (27 points), McMillian (21) and McGlothan (20).
This team could make a dozen excuses for having to try to chase a topfour league finish with point guard Jovan Blacksher Jr.’s season-ending knee injury on Jan. 5 at the top of the list. But it’s time to man up, the Lopes feel.
“We got down to the nitty gritty and got real,” McGlothan said about the team talk on Thursday. “It came down to, as a team, we could find excuses and all that stuff. But what can we do individually to better ourselves and hold ourselves more accountable. The accountability factor. That accountability factor is where true brotherhood comes from. That’s where I’d say the camaraderie looked different.”
No selfish shots down the stretch
There are times when the Lopes force shots and get careless with the ball. They had 17 turnovers Friday to Abilene Christian’s three. But down the stretch, they were practically flawless while still being aggressive. Harrison scored six straight points, converting a threepoint play and hitting a 3-pointer that stretches the Lopes’ lead to 71-62 under nine minutes.
After ACU cut it to six on its possession, Harrison hit a tough shot to make it an eight-point lead. A little later, McGlothan nearly loss possession before retaininig it and hitting a shot in the paint to keep the pressure on the Wildcats.
“I thought out camaraderie and togetherness was the top of the year,” Drew said. “We had three guys score over 20 and I don’t think there was one selfish shot in there. When certain guys had shots, they were happy for each other. And when it was their turn, they took their shots. Man, just really proud of the guys.”