Grand Canyon University upset No. 23 Utah State 84-74 on Saturday, marking the Antelopes’ first victory over the Aggies as Mountain West Conference opponents and ending Utah State’s eight-game winning streak, according to reports from ABC4 Utah, and SI.com.
The Lopes (11-6, 4-2 Mountain West) were led by Brian Moore Jr. And Makaih Williams, who each scored 20 points. Williams scored 16 of his points in the second half, proving crucial in securing the win. Grand Canyon shot 51% from the floor, a key factor in overcoming the higher-ranked Aggies.
Utah State (15-2, 6-1 Mountain West) struggled offensively, shooting just 36% from the floor and 25% from beyond the arc. The loss represents the Aggies’ first defeat in Mountain West play this season.
“We’ve had a really emotional couple days,” Lopes head coach Bryce Drew said, as reported by SI.com. “I thought the start was just incredible…(Utah State) is such a good team. They’re explosive. They press. The switching defense. Our guys made a lot of really good individual plays.”
Utah State head coach Jerrod Calhoun attributed the loss to defensive failures and Grand Canyon’s size. “I thought our defense really failed us,” Calhoun said, according to ABC4 Utah. “They spent a lot of money on this roster, so their size is real. I give them a ton of credit. That’s the biggest team we’ve faced all year.”
The victory comes after a significant loss for Grand Canyon, a 87-64 defeat at Novel Mexico. San Diego State also secured a win on Saturday, defeating New Mexico 83-79, and currently holds the top spot in the Mountain West Conference standings. Nevada continued its strong performance with an 81-66 road win against Air Force.
