Crowd, tight loss feels actual in exhibtion vs. USC

Nothing concerning the standing-room-only scene at Global Credit Union Arena stated that, nor did it appear to be a sport that didn’t formally depend with the Lopes’ response to a 67-61 loss to the Trojans.

USC, No. 22 within the KenPom preseason rankings, noticed GCU erase its 15-point lead earlier than halftime, solely to construct it again to double digits within the second half and maintain onto slimmer margins down the stretch for victory.

After holding Loyola Marymount to twenty-eight% taking pictures in its first exhibition win, USC saved GCU to 34% taking pictures on Saturday night time whereas forcing 18 Lopes turnovers in entrance of an overflow crowd of seven,379 followers.

And whereas the Trojans could be stellar defensively (particularly being plus-nine in 7-foot-5 heart Gabe Dyne’s 23 minutes), GCU will construct on the areas of progress and proper others for the eight days main as much as a Nov. 3 season opener towards Purdue Fort Wayne at house.

“We’ve got to get better,” GCU head coach Bryce Drew stated. “I think playing this game in front of our crowd with the energy will help us moving forward.”

Despite the shortcomings, the Lopes delivered an amazing first-half stretch of 11 consecutive defensive stops for a 14-0 run and an opportunity to win after they reduce USC’s result in two factors with 1:45 remaining.

A four-guard lineup’s 8-2 run featured GCU junior Makaiah Williams’ fastbreak 3-point play and his hanging drive, however USC answered with an alleyoop that put its lead at 65-61 with 1:15 to go and acquired no reply from the Lopes.

“We know it’s probably the hardest place in the country to play,” USC head coach Eric Musselman stated. “I don’t know how you could do any better.”

After GCU misplaced one other shut exhibition to a different KenPom preseason top-25 workforce at Baylor two weeks in the past, Drew stated he noticed enhancements within the Lopes’ spacing, rebounding and constant vitality.

GCU graduate energy ahead Nana Owusu-Anane grabbed 16 rebounds (seven on offense), however he went 3 for 14 from the sector Saturday and was 5 for twenty-four within the Lopes’ two exhibition video games.

“That’s not good enough from our starting 4,” Drew stated. “He hasn’t played in a year, and it looks like he hasn’t played in a year. But I love how hard he plays and how he keeps attacking. “

Because he missed final season with a shoulder damage, Owusu-Anane’s season opener can be his first official school sport since March 2024 at Brown.

“I’m trying to do whatever it takes to win,” stated Owusu-Anane, whose 16-rebound sport isn’t an outlier after 4 profession video games of 15 or extra boards. “Obviously, I can’t hit the side of a barn right now. It’s not about me. It’s about the team. If I can’t make shots, I can go do other things trying to help us win. It didn’t go our way today, but we’ll be better.”

With the anticipation of a made-over roster in GCU’s inaugural Mountain West season, the Lopes appeared nervous or overly hyped early as USC took a 16-3 lead with solely freshman heart Efe Demirel scoring on 3-point play.

However, Demirel’s transition to varsity basketball proved difficult when the 7-foot Turk fouled out in six minutes of play Saturday night time. Redshirt freshman heart Dennis Evans additionally struggled in his 4 minutes, however GCU picked up high quality big-man enjoying time from graduate Wilhelm Breidenbach and junior Kaleb Smith off the bench.

Breidenbach notably flipped the sport, getting into as a 14-0 run began with USC going 0 for 9 with two turnovers throughout that stetch.

“Experience is so important, and he just knows where to go and where he can use his body,” Drew stated of Breidenbach, the graduate switch from Washington. “He only got six rebounds, but he probably created space for three or four and he played some really good defense.”

The Lopes’ 14-0 run was capped by graduate guard Brian Moore Jr.’s aggressive drives, drawing fouls on consecutive performs regardless of the correct shoulder points he has skilled for the reason that Baylor sport.

Moore stated his earlier high quality groups all the time have succeeded within the first 4 minutes and final 4 minutes of every half, one thing GCU didn’t do in both half Saturday.

“We need to figure out how to still make winning plays even when shots aren’t falling,” Moore stated. “It was good to have an exhibition like that to get the first-game jitters out with a home crowd like this.”

GCU graduate pupil Jaden Henley, enjoying full-time level guard for the primary time in his profession, dedicated six turnovers with three coming within the sport’s ultimate seven minutes. He completed with 11 factors on 4-for-12 taking pictures, 9 rebounds and two assists.

Henley additionally went 3 for 8 on free throws, a part of the Lopes 14-for-25 free throw taking pictures with a number of misses on the entrance finish of bonus conditions late within the sport.

The Lopes’ reserves mixed for eight turnovers towards two assists.

“We’ve got to have more willing passers and not just willing drivers,” Drew stated.

GCU fell into an 11-point gap twice within the second half, when it went 1 for 9 on 3s and three for 10 on free throws.

The Lopes protection created a number of the identical points for the Trojans, whose main scorer Chad Baker-Mazara described the sport environment as being “like a frat party” and stated it reminded him of his earlier college, Auburn. He went 5 for 21 from the sector for 15 factors, and USC shot 41%.

“This is good for experience and to let them know we’ve got a lot to improve on before our Opening Night,” Drew stated.

GCU will play its first three regular-season video games at Global Credit Union Arena, beginning with Purdue Fort Wayne on Nov. 3 earlier than enjoying host to Youngstown State (Nov. 7) and Northern Illinois (Nov. 10).

“At GCU; we don’t lose here,” Owusu-Anane stated. “We understand that. We’re a winning program. We’ve to be better, and we will be. I truly believe it, seeing the hurt and frustration in the locker room. We’re only going to grow from it. We will be better, I can assure you. I will be better personally, and our team will be better.”