For most any college basketball program, playing in their conference title game would be a major achievement.. Grand Canyon University made it all the way to the Western Athletic Conference championship game in just their FIRST season of eligibility. The ‘Lopes came up short to New Mexico State 72-58 Saturday night at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
GCU shot just 41 percent from the floor and turned the ball over 13 times. Those were the two numbers that really did them in. New Mexico State went an a couple of extended scoring runs, including a 18-4 spurt at the end of the first half, which turned the momentum of the game. Freshman Alessandro Lever led the ‘Lopes with 20 points.
The season for Grand Canyon may not be over. The NIT Tournament will announce their field on Sunday night. With the Lopes having won 20 games and making it to their conference title game, perhaps that will be enough of a resume’ to get them into the postseason tourney in their first season of eligibility.
Sports360AZ
