ARLINGTON, Texas – UTA men's basketball (12-13, 5-6 WAC) remains home on Saturday and hosts Grand Canyon (18-6, 8-2 WAC). The game tips off at 2 p.m. CT, and will be broadcast live on
ESPN+, and on the radio on the Varsity App, 102.5 FM and KTNO 620 AM.
UTA is coming off an exciting overtime win over California Baptist on Thursday night where the Mavs overcame a 17-point second half deficit to win its fourth straight game at home. The Mavericks were buoyed by a career-high 29 points from forward
Raysean Seamster, who shot 9-of-11 from the floor and also had eight rebounds in the win. UTA saw all five starters score in double figures, including forward/center
Lance Ware, who had 14 points, eight rebounds and five steals.
Grand Canyon, who currently sits in second place in the WAC, knocked off Tarleton State 64-60 on Thursday night. Guard Tyon Grant-Foster, who was inserted into the starting lineup, paced the Lopes with 19 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and two steals in the win, despite turning the ball over on seven occasions.
The Lopes are led by fifth-year head coach Bryce Drew, who has led GCU to three NCAA Tournament appearances in his first four seasons. That included the program's first March Madness win in 2023-24, as a No. 12 seed over No. 5 Saint Mary's. Drew has taken all three teams he's been the head coach for (Valparaiso, Vanderbilt and GCU) to the NCAA Tournament. Drew was the head coach at his alma mater Valparaiso from 2011-12 until 2015-16, when he took the head coaching job at Vanderbilt, where he led the Commodores until 2018-19. He then took over the GCU program ahead of the 2020-21 season.
Grand Canyon is led by guard Tyon Grant-Foster, who is averaging a team-high 14.4 ppg and 6.3 rpg. Forwards JaKobe Coles (14.0 ppg and 5.7 rpg) and Duke Brennan (10.6 ppg and 9.5 rpg) are also key fixtures for the Lopes.
Saturday's meeting between UTA and Grand Canyon will be the seventh all-time, with GCU sweeping all three contests last season, including the WAC Championship Game in Las Vegas on March 16 at the Orleans Arena, 89-74.
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