Two of the Western Athletic Conference’s best teams will clash when the Southern Utah University men’s basketball team travels to Phoenix, Arizona to take on Grand Canyon University on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 6 p.m. This game will mark the first conference games for both teams and can be streamed on ESPN+.
Grand Canyon
The Lopes are coming from a year in which they made the second round of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament. GCU has continued their dominance in the 2024-25 season starting 10-4 on the year and is 8-1 at home.
When it comes to Western Athletic Conference statistics, GCU ranks at the top in scoring offense and No. 2 in scoring defense. The Lopes average 79.6 points per game on 43.3% shooting while holding teams to 69.4 points a game. Grand Canyon defends the perimeter well, holding teams to shoot just 30.4% from three.
Although GCU has thrived on offense, WAC Preseason Player of the Year Tyon Grant-Foster has struggled. Grant-Foster is shooting just 28.3% from the field and 12% from three. Grant-Foster, usually a good three-point shooter, hasn’t made a three-pointer since Dec. 7.
Southern Utah
After starting 8-2 on the year, SUU has dropped in their last four games and is 8-6 on the season. Five of their six losses this year happened on the road. The offense has struggled at home, averaging only 68.1 points per game away from Cedar City compared to 85.8 points per game at home.
The Thunderbirds are led by a solid backcourt with guards Tavi Jackson and Jamir Simpson. Jackson leads the team with 34 assists and 15 steals on the year, while Simpson is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 16.8 points per game.
Along with Simpson, forward Dominique Ford is second on the team in scoring, averaging 14.1 points a game. Ford also leads the team in three-pointers made with 30.
SUU is 0-7 all-time against GCU.
Author: Jack Paul
Photographer: SUU Athletics
Copy editor: Isaac Allen