0
0
It was a night of celebration at GCU Arena, and the Lopes gave their fans even more to cheer about. On Gabe McGlothan bobblehead night, Grand Canyon made a statement with a dominant 48–18 halftime lead and never looked back, rolling to an 81-57 victory over Air Force behind a smothering defensive performance and a deep bench contribution.
Lopes First-half dominance
The story of the night began on the defensive end. GCU forced turnovers on Air Force’s first three possessions, immediately setting the tone for an evening of frustration for the Falcons’ offense. The Lopes’ length and intensity caused chaos, leading to a pair of extended scoring droughts of five and seven minutes apiece.
Jaden Henley fueled the early surge, contributing to 12 of GCU’s first 15 points with six points, three rebounds, and three assists in the opening stretch. Despite struggling from the free-throw line (just 1-of-7 to start) and cooling off from deep after the Boise State rout, Grand Canyon overwhelmed Air Force with tempo and discipline. By halftime, the Lopes had attempted and made more field goals than Air Force had even taken.
Evan Boisdur punctuated the half with his first bucket of the season—a fadeaway buzzer-beater from three that pushed the lead to 30 and electrified the Arena.
Second-half composure
While the second half slowed offensively, the Lopes’ control never wavered. GCU managed only four points in the first three minutes—all from the free-throw line—but continued to generate defensive stops and turnovers. A hustle play from Makiah Williams pushed Air Force’s turnover total to 14, and the Lopes cashed in on the extra possessions despite continued free-throw struggles (finishing 6-of-16, just 37.5%).
Evan Boisdur added to his first-half magic, finishing 2-of-4 from deep with two steals, a rebound, and an assist—his most complete performance in purple and white. Freshman center Dennis Evans also impressed, swatting three shots to bring his five-game block total to 13.
Tempers briefly flared midway through the half when Air Force’s Kam Sanders exchanged words with Dusty Stromer after a made three-pointer. The sequence resulted in multiple technical fouls but little change in momentum. From there, GCU cruised to the finish line, briefly allowing an 8–0 Falcon runs before closing out the night with ease. A late Air Force dunk at the buzzer trimmed the margin to 24—just enough to cover the 24.5-point spread.
Statement win amid adversity for Lopes
Without Caleb Shaw for a third straight game and coming off an emotionally charged postgame from head coach Bryce Drew in Boise, the Lopes showed growth in resilience and maturity. Every player in uniform contributed in some form, reflecting the program’s depth and defensive identity.
The win lifts GCU to 14–7 (8–3), setting up a key stretch of conference play with confidence restored and the team continuing to define itself through collective energy and defensive intensity.
About the Author
