The Grand Canyon University Antelopes are playing the best of any college basketball team in the state of Arizona. They are currently 16-1 overall and 6-0 in the Western Athletic conference.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Lopes are on a 13-game win streak that includes a win over San Diego State who was ranked 25th in the country at the time. SDSU went on a seven game win streak after that loss and is now ranked 19th in the country. So, that win has become even more impressive for GCU as the season has gone along.
During this 13-game win streak, the Lopes average point differential is 15 points per game. This includes a 28-point win over Portland, a 50-point win over Bethesda, a 21-point win over Southern Utah, and a 26-point win over Tarleton State.
The rankings back up the record
GCU is scoring 81.9 points per game, which is 38th in the country out of 362 teams. They are also playing great on the defensive end, only allowing 66.9 points per game. They are ranked 78th in the country in points allowed per game.
The Lopes are 19th in the country in point differential with a +15 point differential. This points to their consistency throughout the season.
Grand Canyon is very efficient on the offensive end, shooting 49 percent from the floor which is first in the WAC and 22nd in the country. They are also shooting 33.8 percent from three point range which is third in their conference.
This team is not just offense, they also get after it, on the defensive end. They led the WAC in blocks with 5.6 blocks per game. This is also among the best in the country, they rank 14th in blocks per game.
The players to look out for
The leading scorer is senior guard Tyon Grant-Foster. Grant-Foster is averaging 20.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game. He is a very well-rounded player, who is also very efficient.
Grant-Foster is shooting 47.8 percent from the floor, 34.2 percent from three, and 75.6 percent from the free throw line on 7.4 attempts per game. He is 19th in the nation in free throw attempts per game.
The senior guard started his career at Kansas University before transferring to DePaul and then finally coming over to GCU. It looks like he has found the perfect fit with the Lopes.
The second leading scorer is senior forward Gabe McGlothan. McGlothan is averaging 14.3 points and eight rebounds per game. The Gilbert, Arizona native is shooting 57.6 percent from the floor, 41 percent from three, and 76.8 percent from the free throw line.
There are three players for GCU who are averaging at least 14 points per game. The third player is junior guard Ray Harrison. Harrison is averaging 14 points and 3.8 assists per game, which leads the team.
Up Next
Grand Canyon is taking on the (8-9, 3-3 in the WAC) Utah Valley Wolverines at home on January 18th at 7 pm on ESPN Plus.
College basketball fans should tune in to watch this well rounded team that is led by veterans like Tyon Grant-Foster, Gabe McGlothan, and Ray Harrison. The combination of offensive talent, defensive intensity, and mistake free play could lead to this team making an improbable run in the NCAA tournament.
