2023-24 WAC Men's Basketball Release - Week 10

GCU, TARLETON STATE THE ONLY REMAINING UNBEATENS
Following the resumption of conference play the week of Jan. 1, Grand Canyon and Tarleton State remained the only two WAC teams with undefeated league records. GCU won a pair of road contests during a swing at Southern Utah and Utah Tech to improve to 4-0 in WAC competition, while Tarleton State won a competitive in-state clash with UT Arlington to sit at 3-0 entering league play on Jan. 11. Stephen F. Austin, Utah Valley and Seattle U were all 3-1 after four WAC starts.

LOPES REMAIN IN FRONT IN THE WAC RESUME SEEDING SYSTEM
In the latest WAC Résumé Seeding System rankings that were compiled on Jan. 8, Grand Canyon extended its advantage with 4.92 points on the strength of a lengthy winning streak. Tarleton State (0.77 points) and Seattle U (0.52 points) rounded out the top three as the only other WAC teams with positive point values. Utah Valley (-0.05 points) and Stephen F. Austin (-0.06 points) comprised the rest of the top five teams.

GCU BATTLES BACK AT UTAH TECH TO WIN 11TH STRAIGHT
Riding a 10-game winning streak into a conference tilt at Utah Tech on Jan. 6, Grand Canyon found itself in a situation that has been unfamiliar for Lopes for the majority of this season, trailing by double digits at the half. GCU erupted out of the locker room to erase a 10-point deficit, outscoring the Trailblazers 48-28 in the second half of a 75-65 victory to move to 4-0 in WAC play. The Lopes flipped the script from a 38.5 percent (10-of-26) shooting performance in the opening 20 minutes with an 18-for-31 (58.1 percent) showing in the second half against Utah Tech. Gabe McGlothan led all scorers with 23 points on his way to WAC Player of the Week honors, while Tyon Grant-Foster chipped in 20 points, eight rebounds, two blocked shots and three steals for the Lopes in the victory to earn WAC Newcomer of the Week accolades. GCU’s 11-game win streak as of Jan. 10 was the fourth-longest active streak in NCAA Division I.

CHRISTOFILIS EXPLODES FOR CAREER-HIGH IN SEATTLE U WIN AGAINST UTAH TECH
In his fourth game since returning from a lengthy absence due to injury, Seattle U forward John Christofilis enjoyed a signature performance for the Redhawks in a 70-53 win against Utah Tech on Jan. 4. Christofilis, a transfer from Creighton playing in just his 17th career game, went off for 32 points on 13-of-22 (59.1 percent) shooting from the floor against the Trailblazers, which included a 6-of-11 (54.5 percent) effort from beyond the 3-point line. Christofilis shattered his previous career high of 18 points set in the season opener against Prairie View on Nov. 8 and equaled the top performance in the conference this season with his 13 made field goals for Seattle U versus Utah Tech.

WAC IN THE NATIONAL STATS RANKINGS
Stephen F. Austin moved up to first in the country in bench points (40.27) in the latest NCAA Division I national statistics report on Jan. 8. SFA remained third in turnovers forced per game (18.80). Grand Canyon checked in second in winning percentage (.933) and UTRGV moved up to fourth in free throws attempted (27.1) per game. Seattle U was also in the top 10 ranked eighth in 3-point field goal defensive percentage (26.7).

TOP TWO IN THE STANDINGS SET TO MEET THIS WEEK
Grand Canyon and Tarleton State, the top two teams entering the week in the WAC standings, are set to face off on Jan. 13 in Phoenix. Tarleton State travels to California Baptist and GCU welcomes Abilene Christian on Jan. 11 leading into the meeting between the Texans and Lopes.