PHOENIX – UT Arlington men's basketball (13-14, 6-7) travels to the Valley of the Sun to do battle with Grand Canyon (20-6, 10-2 WAC) on Thursday night. The game tips off at 8 p.m. CT, and will be broadcast on ESPN+, and on the radio on the Varsity App, 102.5 FM and KTNO 620 AM with the Voice of the Mavericks, Josh Sours.
 
"They're going to compete," head coach KT Turner said of UTA's opponent, Grand Canyon, during his weekly press conference. "They're really talented and they're a championship team. They've been there, they've been in big games and they know what to do. They're going to compete and they're going to fight, just like us. They execute well and it will be a great opportunity for us."
 
The last time the teams met, on Saturday, Feb. 15, in Arlington, the Mavs led for nearly 31 minutes of the 40, but ultimately fell 82-75. In a game that saw 13 lead changes, it was the visitors who left with the victory.
 
Grand Canyon, is off to a 20-6 start, and is 10-2 in WAC play, following a 66-64 win at CBU on Saturday.
 
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 14.6 ppg and 6.2 rpg. He finished with 18 points, five assists and three blocks in the win over UTA on Feb. 15 in Arlington. G Ray Harrison led the way in that game with 19 points and five rebounds. Forward JaKobe Coles chipped in with 13 points and eight boards in the win.
 
Saturday's meeting between UTA and Grand Canyon will be the eighth all-time, with GCU having won the first meeting this season, 82-75 on Feb. 15 in Arlington.
   
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