GCU Set to Host Colorado State in First Mountain West Meeting

Phoenix, AZ – Grand Canyon University will host Colorado State on Saturday, January 3, at 6 p.m. in its first Mountain West home game. The matchup comes after a 12-day break, during which the Lopes have focused on preparation.

Grand Canyon (GCU) enters the game with an 8-4 record and a 1-0 mark in the conference, following a strong home win against IU Indy on December 22. Coach Bryce Drew is optimistic about his team’s readiness, attributing their successful preparation to past experiences when they have had extended breaks.

“They’ve been really good getting back from the break,” Drew said. “The energy and focus have been really good.”

GCU has a strong home game record, winning 38 of their last 40 matches at home, with Drew maintaining a perfect 5-0 record in home conference openers. The Lopes are looking to continue their success against Colorado State (9-4, 0-2 MW), which is struggling after losing to Utah State and Nevada without their leading scorer Kyle Jorgensen.

“It helps with the excitement of being in league play,” Drew added. “I know they’ll be excited to get out and play after not playing for a while.”

Colorado State, facing difficulties without Jorgensen and possibly other key players, has dropped from an impressive shooting percentage to lower scores in recent games. The Rams aim to reverse their fortunes against a GCU team that is strong defensively, allowing just 41.7% shooting in the past seven games.

Jaden Henley leads GCU in scoring and will look to guide his team through the challenges posed by Colorado State’s defense. The anticipated game marks a significant moment for GCU, making their entrance into the Mountain West Conference memorable.