PHOENIX – Grand Canyon scored 17 straight points to erase a 12-point UTSA lead 10 minutes into the game, and used a second half 9-0 run to fuel a comeback, pushing the Lopes to a 74-71 win over UTSA men's basketball, on Thursday night at GCU Arena.
UTSA (5-4) owned an 18-6 lead at the 10-minute mark in the first half before Grand Canyon (7-1) used 17 straight points – including four consecutive made 3-pointers – to rally from behind and take the lead.
UTSA rallied to take the lead with seven minutes left in the game but GCU used a 9-0 run to regain an advantage and held off a late charge from the Roadrunners, including a game-tying half-court shot at the buzzer, to escape with the win.
The Roadrunners were seeking a sixth win in the first nine games, which would have equaled the best start in 10 years.
Cedrick Alley Jr. turned in a career-high 24 points and added 11 rebounds in his second double-double of the year, besting his previous career-high of 18 points while at Houston in a matchup at BYU in 2018.
The Roadrunners were also led by junior center Jacob Germany, a native of Kingston, Okla. Germany had 18 points, including 14 in the first half, and 10 rebounds for his seventh career double-double and his first of 2021-22.
Dhieu Deing finished with 11 points, snapping his streak of 25 or more points in the last two games, and Jordan Ivy-Curry chipped in eight points, three boards and two assists.
UTSA outrebounded GCU 51-32, a 19-board margin against a Lopes team that entered the game ranked fourth in the NCAA in rebounding margin. UTSA had a 21-8 advantage in offensive rebounds, against a GCU team ranked No. 5 in the NCAA in offensive rebounds.
The Roadrunners shot 36 percent, including a 38-percent clip in the first half. GCU, the defending Western Athletic Conference Champion and an NCAA Tournament team a year ago, shot 46 percent.
UTSA returns to action on Dec. 11, traveling to face Sam Houston at Houston's Toyota Center at 3 p.m. live on Ticket 760 AM.
The Roadrunners opened the game with the first eight points, getting a post-move basket from Germany, jumpers from the midrange from Deing and a Deing drive and for a Germany flush. Germany's wing trey, his first career 3-pointer, stretched the led to 11-2.
After a GCU basket, Germany netted a lefty hook for a 13-4 lead at the first media timeout. Christian Tucker took the lead to 15-6 with a drive and dish to Cedrick Alley Jr. for a dunk to take an 18-6 lead 10 minutes into the game.
Grand Canyon then ripped off a 17-0 run, making six straight shots that included four consecutive 3-pointers, to take a 23-18 lead and force a timeout from Coach Steve Henson. UTSA answered with a midrange jumper from Deing and a lay-in from Lamin Sabally to narrow the lead to 25-22 with just under four minutes left in the half.
The lead grew to 29-22 before UTSA got four straight from the line, two from Tucker and a pair from Germany. Germany finished a hoop and a harm to cut the lead to 34-29 at the half. Germany led the way with 14 first-half points as UTSA stayed in the game despite shooting 38 percent and GCU hitting at a 45 percent clip.
UTSA scored 11 of the first 13 points to open the second half, getting a midrange jumper from Deing, and Sabally and Alley putbacks. Alley cut the lead to 38-36 with a free throw and Ivy-Curry sank a midrange jumper to even the game at 38. Alley cleaned up the offensive glass to give UTSA its first lead of the second half, 40-38, but the Lopes answered with a triple to take a 41-40 lead into the first media timeout.
Alley gave UTSA a 42-40 lead with an inside bucket and he sank a pair at the line to even the game at 44. Deing answered a GCU basket with a wing 3-pointer for a 47-46 lead. Alley hit a free throw and Aleu Aleu added his first two career points, coming at the line, to take the lead to 50-47.
Alley's second 3-pointer gave UTSA a five-point lead but it was immediately answered by a 3-pointer from the Lopes. Germany took the lead to 55-51 but the Lopes scored the next nine points to own a 60-55 lead with six minutes left.
Alley hit two at the line to cut the lead to 60-57. Alley cut the lead to three before a 3-pointer stretched the advantage back to 65-59. Germany cut the lead to four but GCU scored the next four for an eight-point lead.
Alley hit a pair more at the line and Ivy-Curry sank his first 3-pointer of the game – off an offensive rebound from Alley – to narrow the lead to 69-66 with 53.6 seconds left.
GCU executed out of a timeout on a Javon Blackshear Jr. basket, taking the lead to 71-66 with 34.4 left.
Ivy-Curry sank a 3-pointer out of Henson's timeout to cut the lead to 71-69 with 26.3 left.
GCU hit one of two free throws and UTSA grabbed the rebound, with Ivy-Curry's attempt at a game-tying 3-pointer sailing long, with UTSA fouling with 13.7 left in regulation.
Holland Woods II stretched the lead to 73-69 with the final of two free throws. Aleu scored on the offensive glass with 2.6 seconds left and UTSA fouled with 2.1 left.
Blackshear missed the first free throw but hit the second for a 74-71 lead.
A desperation heave from Deing with 2.1 seconds left missed and allowed the Lopes to escape with the win.
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