GCU takes Global Sports Classic title with win over Marshall

Tuesday, December 22

Las Vegas, Nev.

8:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

11-2

Marshall

4-8

Grand Canyon

Marshall

Photo by: Darryl Webb

GCU takes Global Sports Classic title with win over Marshall

12/23/2015 12:58:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Braun named Tournament MVP

By: Charles Hampton

The Grand Canyon men's basketball team captured the Global Sports Classic title with an 85-81 win over the Marshall Thundering Herd at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nev. on Tuesday night.

Joshua Braun was named the Tournament MVP and to the All-Tournament Team after leading the Lopes with 20 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the field, while also hitting 7-of-8 free throw attempts. Grandy Glaze also made the All-Tournament Team, scoring 10 points and grabbing 6 rebounds in the win.

"It's been a long road trip," head coach Dan Majerle said after the game. "It's been very mentally taxing—San Diego State and then the big win against Houston. Back-to-back here against Marshall, we didn't have much time to prepare for them. They're a good team. They can really shoot the basketball and spread the floor. A great win, just a gutsy performance."

The Lopes took the lead for the first time two and a half minutes into the game and built up a first-half lead to as much as 15. The Lopes shot 42.4 percent from the field in the first half, while connecting on 3-of-10 three-point attempts. Matt Jackson, De'Andre Davis and Ryan Majerle came off the bench to spark a 13-0 run to put the Lopes up 34-19. The Herd fought back into the game, pulling with seven points as GCU took a 42-35 lead into the half.

"Our guys didn't come out focused mentally," Majerle said of his team. "It was like that the whole game. It just tells you that we fought, we fought and we fought and made some big plays down the stretch and found a way to win."

The Herd held an 8-point lead with 6:35 remaining before the Lopes went on an 8-0 run tie the game at 72. The Herd answered with five quick points to regain control. The two teams traded baskets on the next two possessions.

The Lopes trailed by four with 1:13 left in the game when Braun hit a three at the top of the key to cut the Marshall lead to one. After Jon Elmore missed a 3-pointer for the Herd, the Lopes called timeout. Coach Majerle drew up a play for Braun to get the ball again and the sophomore form Anthem, Ariz. answered the call by hitting a highly contested 3-pointer to put the Lopes up 83-81 with 24 seconds to play. After missed jumpers by C.J. Burks and James Kelly, Glaze and Jackson each hit 1-of-2 free throws to seal the victory for the Lopes.

"I got an opportunity—Grandy set a great screen," Braun said of his go-ahead 3-pointer. "I came off and was able to knock it down. I'm happy it went down. I just wanted to take the shot. We were able to grind it out and get that one. Good teams find a way to get wins, especially when we're down or maybe when not everybody has got it going, but we were able to pull that one out and it was great."

Braun scored 14 of his 20 points in the second half, including hitting 3-of-5 from behind the arc. Davis had a big second half as well, scoring 13 of his 15 points, to help get the Lopes back in the game. Dominic Magee also scored in double-figures, adding 12 points and leading the team with 4 assists.

Grand Canyon has six days off until its next game, a road matchup with the Cougars of Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Monday, Dec. 28, 2015 at the Vadalabene Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. MT. The Lopes then return home to kick off 2016 as they host Bethune-Cookman on Sunday, Jan. 3 at Grand Can University Arena.