Lopes Fall Short Against New Mexico Despite Second-Half Rally
Grand Canyon University’s men’s basketball team battled back from a significant first-half deficit Wednesday night, but ultimately fell to New Mexico 70-64 at Global Credit Union Arena. The Lobos closed the game on a 10-2 run to secure the victory.
First-Half Struggles, Second-Half Surge
GCU found themselves trailing by as many as 20 points in the first half, ending the period down 40-27. However, the Lopes demonstrated resilience, rallying in the second half to briefly take the lead with 9:09 remaining in the game. This comeback was largely fueled by a strong individual performance from junior guard Makaih Williams.
Williams Leads the Charge
Makaih Williams scored 13 consecutive points for GCU during a pivotal stretch of the second half, giving the Lopes their first lead of the game. He finished as the team’s leading scorer with 20 points, also contributing five rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Williams played nearly the entire game, logging 38:27 of court time.
Hall Seals the Victory for New Mexico
Despite GCU’s efforts, New Mexico responded with a pair of second-chance buckets to regain the lead. With the score tied at 64-64, freshman guard Jake Hall, who led all scorers with 23 points, hit a fadeaway baseline jumper with 29.1 seconds left to put the Lobos ahead. Hall was 4-of-5 from the 3-point line.
3-Point Shooting Woes Continue for GCU
A significant factor in the Lopes’ loss was their struggles from beyond the arc. GCU shot just 4-of-25 (16%) from 3-point range, continuing a season-long trend. They currently rank last in the Mountain West Conference in 3-point shooting, converting only 30.1% of their attempts.
Coach Drew on the Game’s Turning Points
GCU head coach Bryce Drew acknowledged the team’s defensive shortcomings in the first half. “First half, obviously, they made a lot of shots. We didn’t defend. We didn’t hit or keep the ball in front of us at all,” Drew stated. He also praised the team’s improved aggression and effort in the second half.
Looking Ahead: Road Trip to San José State and San Diego State
The Lopes will hit the road to face San José State on Saturday at 3 p.m. (Phoenix time), followed by a matchup against San Diego State on Tuesday night.
Did You Know?
Jake Hall’s 23-point performance against GCU helped New Mexico improve to 18-4 overall and 9-4 in Mountain West play.
FAQ
Q: What was the final score of the game?
A: New Mexico defeated Grand Canyon 70-64.
Q: Who led the scoring for New Mexico?
A: Jake Hall led New Mexico with 23 points.
Q: Who led the scoring for Grand Canyon?
A: Makaih Williams led Grand Canyon with 20 points.
Q: What is GCU’s current 3-point shooting percentage?
A: GCU is shooting 30.1% from 3-point range this season.
Q: Where will GCU play their next game?
A: GCU will play at San José State on Saturday.
Explore more game coverage and team updates at gculopes.com.
