Grand Canyon University Upsets No. 23 Utah State
In a thrilling encounter, Grand Canyon University upended No. 23 Utah State with a final score of 84-74 on Saturday, showcasing a powerful second-half performance. Makaih Williams was instrumental in the victory, contributing 16 out of his total 20 points after halftime, while Brian Moore Jr. also made a significant impact, finishing with 20 points. The win marked the Antelopes’ (11-6, 4-2 in the Mountain West Conference) third victory against ranked teams in their history, igniting a celebratory court-storming by their enthusiastic fans.
Game Overview
The game began with Utah State (15-2, 6-2) struggling to find their rhythm. The Aggies had recently celebrated their debut in the AP Top 25 after a solid performance in which they defeated Nevada 71-62. However, they found themselves quickly falling behind the Antelopes, who shot an impressive 51% from the field and thrived on the pressure defense that forced multiple turnovers early in the game.
Grand Canyon surged ahead to establish a nine-point lead, and although Mason Falslev, who led Utah State with 25 points, attempted to rally his team by scoring 12 consecutive points to equalize at 23, his team fell stagnant afterward, trailing by six at the break after shooting only 36% from the floor and struggling from beyond the arc with just seven successful 3-pointers out of 28 attempts.
Second Half Dynamics
As the second half unfolded, Utah State’s defense ramped up, allowing them to come within one point after a long-range shot from Kolby King. However, the momentum was short-lived, as the Aggies missed six of their subsequent seven shots, allowing Grand Canyon to extend their lead back to 10 points.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Utah State will host UNLV on Tuesday, while Grand Canyon is set to face San Diego State at home on Wednesday. This match highlighted the unpredictable nature of college basketball and underscored Grand Canyon’s developing reputation as a formidable opponent.
