Grand Canyon Falls to Colorado State in Mountain west Clash

In a season-long gauntlet of difficult opponents, Grand Canyon faced its stingiest defense yet on Wednesday and learned how difficult it is to score on colorado State, which ranks 10th nationally for fewest points allowed.

Defensive Battle and Turnover Troubles

But after leading the nation in fewest turnovers for four seasons, the Rams found out what the Lopes defense can do too, holding them to 38% shooting and prompting a season-high 14 turnovers.

The difference, as it often is with Colorado State, was a third quarter in which GCU was outscored by 13 points in a 61-47 New year’s Eve loss at Global Credit Union Arena.

Strong Start to Mountain West Play

The Lopes opened Mountain West play promisingly with a one-point loss to four-time defending champion UNLV, a 20-point win at San José State, and a close first half Wednesday when GCU’s defense made Colorado State grind for a 28-22 lead.

Colorado State’s Dominant Third Quarter

That turned into a 19-point gap after the third quarter, when the Rams (12-2, 3-0 MW) continued their season-long trend of outscoring opponents by an average of seven points per third quarter. Holding GCU (2-10,1-2 MW) to 2-of-12 shooting with four turnovers,Colorado State used the 21-8 third quarter to pull away for its 12th consecutive road win – the nation’s second-longest active road winning streak.

“When you have five assists, you’re not going to win many games, if any,” Lopes head coach Winston Gandy said of GCU’s lowest single-game assist total since December 2021.

Key Statistics and Game Highlights

• Colorado State’s defense limited GCU to 38% shooting from the field.
• GCU committed a season-high 14 turnovers.
• The Rams outscored the Lopes 21-8 in the decisive third quarter.
• Colorado State extended its road winning streak to 12 games.
• GCU recorded only five assists, their lowest total since December 2021.

Looking Ahead

The Lopes will look to bounce back as they continue their Mountain West schedule. Improving ball movement and offensive efficiency will be crucial for GCU to compete in a challenging conference.

Key Takeaways

• Defensive Intensity: Both teams showcased strong defensive efforts, but Colorado State’s consistency proved to be the difference.
• Third-Quarter Struggles: GCU’s struggles in the third quarter were a major factor in the loss.
• Turnover Battle: the high number of turnovers hindered GCU’s offensive flow.
• Road Dominance: Colorado State continues to be a formidable opponent on the road.