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GCU answered every question about its toughness and ceiling in the Mountain West with another commanding win over Boise State, riding a blistering shooting night and a suffocating second‑half defense to an 86–69 victory in Phoenix on Friday night.
Moore returns, Shaw sits for GCU
Guard Brian Moore Jr. made his return to the lineup after missing the last two games with a hamstring issue, while fellow guard Caleb Shaw remained sidelined for a second straight contest after getting hurt at Fresno State. The matchup closed the conference set between the programs after GCU’s 17‑point road win in Boise earlier in January, with the Lopes entering as a slight favorite at home.
While Brian Moore Jr returned, he was on a slight minutes restriction in tonight’s contest, logging just 23 minutes compared to his usual 32-33 minutes while tallying 4 points, 3 rebounds, and an assist. In Bryce Drew’s press conference, he mentioned that BMJ told the coaching staff that they were going to have to force him to sit out because he was tired of sitting on the sidelines and watching his team. While all signs pointed towards BMJ being fully healthy, the coach also continued on by saying they were going to monitor him day to day to ensure there were no long-term complications with his hamstring.
Blazing start, slim halftime edge
Coming off a gut‑punch overtime loss at Nevada, GCU opened like a team with something to prove, starting 10 of 13 from the field, 5 of 5 from deep, and 6 of 6 at the line to seize early control. The Lopes shot 66 percent overall and 83 percent from three in the first half, yet led just 43–41 at the break as Boise State quietly won the rebounding, assists and turnover battles to stay within one possession.
Forward Nana Owusu‑Anane carried GCU early with 13 first‑half points, while Andrew Meadow paced the Broncos with eight before intermission. Boise’s poise on the glass and in ball movement (11–7 assist edge at halftime) kept the game tight despite the Lopes’ offensive fireworks.
GCU Defensive MO slams the door
The anticipated defensive grind fully materialized to open the second half, with GCU getting the period’s first field goal at 18:11 and then locking Boise State out of the scoring column from the floor for nearly six minutes. During that stretch, the Broncos went 0 of 7 from the field and 0 of 3 from three, managing only a single free throw as the Lopes methodically built separation.
Owusu‑Anane’s individual defense was just as impactful as his scoring, as he held Boise standout Javan Buchanan to five points for most of the night before the guard finished with 14 on 3‑for‑10 shooting, below his season scoring average of 12 points on notably better efficiency. Even as Boise reached the bonus with 8:40 to play, the Broncos could not fully capitalize, finishing 19 of 25 at the line.
Balanced scoring and bench spark
By the under‑8 timeout, GCU’s offensive depth had taken over; five different Lopes — Makaih Williams, Dusty Stromer, Jaden Henley, Efe Demirel, and Owusu‑Anane — had reached double figures. Boise tried to extend the game with a full‑court press at the 6:35 mark, but the Lopes calmly broke pressure, attacked the rim, and continued to live at the stripe.
Henley delivered a dominant second half, pouring in 18 after the break to finish with 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists, repeatedly puncturing Boise’s defense in transition and in the half-court. GCU’s bench, held to just four points in the loss at Nevada, erupted for 20 in this one, highlighted by Demirel’s perfect 6‑for‑6 shooting night and 16 points, giving the Lopes a decisive depth advantage.
Jaden’s bounce-back game was critical not just for his confidence, but for the team’s confidence and morale, said Coach Drew. 7/12 from the field was a much better night in the efficiency category than we saw in the previous two games, lacking BMJ and Caleb Shaw to help create spacing on the floor. With the return of BMJ, the feeling or need for Henley to put the entire scoring responsibility on his back is lightened.
Final numbers and statement win
The stat sheet told the story of GCU’s control: the Lopes shot 59.2 percent from the field and 60 percent from three, while limiting Boise State to 39.6 percent overall and 34.8 percent beyond the arc. Grand Canyon scored 43 points in each half and outscored the Broncos 43–28 after halftime, answering every Boise basket with one of its own once the lead hit 16 and never allowing the margin to shrink below double digits down the stretch.
With the 86–69 victory, GCU completed a season sweep of the Broncos, soothed the sting of the Nevada loss, and reinforced its case as a frontrunner to finish atop the Mountain West race.
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