Kats have no answer for hot-shooting GCU

Saturday, February 26

Phoenix, Ariz.

7:00 PM

17-13,12-5WAC

Grand Canyon

20-7,10-5WAC

Sam Houston

Grand Canyon

Photo by: DJ Shafer

Kats have no answer for hot-shooting GCU

2/26/2022 9:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

PHOENIX, Ariz. — Sam Houston could not get a shot to fall in a 67-41 loss to Grand Canyon on Saturday at the GCU Arena.

The Bearkats have lost two in a row and dropped to 12-5 in Western Athletic Conference play and 17-13 on the season. The Lopes improved to 20-7 overall and 11-5 in league action thanks largely in part to a 50 percent (11 for 22) shooting performance from 3-point range.

Jaden Ray led Sam Houston with eight points. Savion Flagg had seven points and seven rebounds before leaving the game due to injury in the second half.

The game was close early in the first half then shots quit falling for the Bearkats, who hit just 3 of 29 shots from long range and hot 26 percent from the field.

After Ray scored on a layup to cut the lead to 22-17, Sam Houston went the next six minutes without scoring. Grand Canyon was able to push its advantage to 31-17 with just over three and a half minutes to play.

Demarkus Lampley, who scored five points, finally ended the scoring drought when he banked a 3-pointer off the glass on a pass from Flagg in transition. Tristan Ikpe made it a 5-0 run with a layup at the 1:26 mark, but the Lopes closed the half with consecutive baskets to take a 35-22 lead.

The second half started the same as the opening period ended. GCU opened the half with a 5-0 run to go up 40-22.

Ray finally got the Bearkats on the board with a jumper at the 18:43 mark, but Sam Houston went scoreless for the next four minutes and the Lopes went on an 18-6 run to build a 58-30 lead.