LARAMIE, Wyo. – Last Saturday, Grand Canyon University (GCU) had an impressive start to its Mountain West era, defeating Wyoming 82-70. This win marked Wyoming’s first home loss of the season.
GCU jumped out to a substantial lead, 45-26, by halftime, showing their strongest away performance in years. They maintained a solid advantage in the second half, never allowing Wyoming to close the gap to single digits. GCU shot 56.8% from the field, marking a season high, while holding Wyoming to 37.3%.
One standout player was junior guard Makaih Williams, who scored 20 points in just 29 minutes. He stepped up significantly after starting guard Brian Moore Jr. got into foul trouble early. Williams was quick to make an impact, including a highlight-reel two-handed dunk. He scored nine points in the first half and added another 11 in the second.
A key moment in the game was GCU’s explosive 16-0 run, which put them ahead 18-3. Wyoming struggled during this stretch, failing to score on 10 consecutive possessions, including both missed shots and turnovers. Nana Owusu-Anane contributed with two back-to-back three-pointers during this run.
Interestingly, Wyoming’s top scorers—Nasir Meyer, Khaden Bennett, and Leland Walker—had an off night, shooting 9 for 27 and failing to meet their usual scoring averages. This defensive performance from GCU was critical to their success.
GCU’s head coach Bryce Drew praised his team’s focus. He noted that they approached the week with determination and emphasized the importance of starting the conference correctly.
Looking ahead, GCU faces IU Indy at home on Monday to wrap up their nonconference schedule before the holiday break. They will jump back into Mountain West action against Colorado State on January 3.
As college basketball heats up, teams are striving to make their mark this season. With performances like GCU’s, they certainly are setting up for an exciting conference journey.
Source link
