Grand Canyon 91, Texas-Pan American 85
Phoenix, Ariz.-(GCU Media Relations) Hot-shooting from behind the arc sparked the Grand Canyon University men's basketball team (6-8, 1-0) to a 91-85 win over visiting Texas-Pan American (4-11, 0-1) in the first-ever Western Athletic Conference game for both teams. The victory snapped a five-game losing streak for GCU.
The Antelopes drained a season-high 14 three-pointers in the game, the most for the squad since going 15-for-30 versus Haskell Indians Nation on Dec. 15, 2007. The 91 points tied for the most this season, the third time the squad has reached that mark.
For the game, GCU shot 52.1 percent (25-for-48) and outrebounded the Broncs 36-27. UTPA went 34-for-70 from the field (48.6 percent) but found success with 48 points in the paint and 23 points off 17 GCU turnovers.
READ FULL ARTICLE
Kansas City 80, Idaho 74
MOSCOW, Idaho -(AP) Nelson Kirksey scored 20 points and UMKC hung on to beat Idaho 80-74 in a Western Athletic Conference nail-biting opener and first ever meeting for both schools on Thursday night.
UMKC, (4-9, 1-0 WAC), playing in their first WAC season, led the Vandals 40-32 at intermission but forfeited the lead to Idaho on a Glen Dean Layup with 12:11 remaining making it 58-56.
The game stayed close with several lead changes down the stretch before UMKC went up 72-69 after Stephen Madison missed two free throws for Idaho (6-9, 0-1 WAC) and the Kangaroos' Caleb Johnson dunked the ball with 2:02 remaining. It was all the spread UMKC need as the Kangaroos held on over the final seconds to pull out a six point victory.
READ FULL ARTICLE