GCU wins 3rd straight WAC title, trip to the big dance

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GCU basketball players talk about their 2024-2025 season

GCU basketball players Collin Moore, JaKobe Coles, Lok Wur, Tyon Grant-Foster, Ray Harrison and Jason Amador reflect on their 2024-2025 season.

LAS VEGAS — Just when it looked like it was slipping away, Grand Canyon’s season was rescued by the guy the Lopes beat in last year’s WAC championship game.

Guard Makaih Williams, who played at UT Arlington last year, made a big defensive play to turn the ball back to the Lopes, then nailed a 3-pointer to give them an eight-point lead with 8:18 left.

A few minutes later, he made another steal. Then, came the veterans, guys with March Madness experience, who drove the Lopes to a third straight WAC Tournament title and trip to the NCAA Tournament with an 89-82 win over top-seed Utah Valley before a raucous crowd of 3,780 at Orleans Arena late Saturday night.

“His speed really helped,” coach Bryce Drew said. “They were trying to pick up Ray (Harrison) full court and try to wear him out. We needed someone to come in and handle the ball. We had JaKobe (Coles) in foul trouble. Tyon (Grant-Foster) was getting in foul trouble. Makaih did a great job in that high-ball screen. They started switching. He did a good job with his speed, making things happen on offense.”

This will be GCU’s fourth trip to the dance in five years under Drew, who thanked the three veterans next to him in the post-game media room. They were tournament MVP Coles, 2024 WAC tourney MVP Grant-Foster and 2023 tournament MVP Ray Harrison.

They all factored in big this week, especially Saturday.

“(Harrison) has shown up to this tournament three straight years, and has been incredible, making clutch play after clutch play,” Drew said. “I couldn’t be happier for him. He came across country to Phoenix. Didn’t know anything about us. He’s been loyal, which in today’s age is hard to find. He’s been loyal. He came here three straight years to do this.”

When the Lopes got down 19-10, Harrison showed that big-game experience,…

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Source link : https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/gcu/2025/03/16/gcu-mens-basketball-wins-3rd-straight-wac-title-ncaa-tournament-bid/82461529007/

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Publish date : 2025-03-16 15:01:00

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