Grand Canyon beats New Mexico State, earns 1st NCAA bid
AP
Mar 14, 2021
LAS VEGAS (AP) Jovan Blacksher Jr. had 19 points and seven rebounds, and Grand Canyon Antelopes earned its first bid to the NCAA Tournament with a 74-56 win over New Mexico St. Aggieste in the Western Athletic Conference tournament championship on Saturday night.
The top-seeded Antelopes (17-6) took the lead for good during a 12-0 run that ended at 19-9 on Oscar Frayer's layup. Grand Canyon's 7-0 run late in the half pushed the lead into double digits for good.
The Antelopes entered the game ranked second in the nation in field goal percentage defense at 37.7% and held No. 3 seed New Mexico State to 36.4% on 20-of-55 shooting. The Aggies attempted 32 shots from 3-point range, making nine of them.
Asbjorn Midtgaard added 12 points and eight rebounds, and Mikey Dixon scored 10 points for the Lopes.
Evan Gilyard II had 18 points, Jabari Rice scored 12 and Donnie Tillman added 11 for the Aggies (12-8).
Grand Canyon coach Bryce Drew, in his first year with the Lopes, was in the NCAA Tournament exactly 23 years ago when he made a buzzer-beating 3-pointer for Valparaiso to beat 10th-ranked Mississippi.
The Antelopes lost to New Mexico State in the previous two WAC championship games in 2018 and 2019. The Aggies won the previous three championships and seven of the last eight.
But the disruptions of the 2020-21 season were especially acute for New Mexico State, which spent over two months at the Arizona Grand Resort and finished the season without a game on its home court.
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1st Half
NMST
Aggies
26
GRCAN
Antelopes
41
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Johnny McCants vs. Asbjorn Midtgaard (Jovan Blacksher Jr. gains possession)
19:53
Alessandro Lever offensive foul
19:53
Alessandro Lever turnover
19:20
Evan Gilyard II misses three point jump shot
19:18
Aggies offensive rebound
19:53
Aggies turnover (shot clock violation)
18:59
Alessandro Lever misses three point jump shot
18:57
Johnny McCants defensive rebound
18:45
+2
Donnie Tillman makes two point layup
2-0
18:29
Oscar Frayer turnover (bad pass) (Evan Gilyard II steals)
18:20
+2
Evan Gilyard II makes two point layup
4-0
18:05
Johnny McCants blocks Asbjorn Midtgaard's two point layup
18:03
Evan Gilyard II defensive rebound
17:54
Johnny McCants misses three point jump shot
17:52
Alessandro Lever defensive rebound
17:52
Alessandro Lever turnover (lost ball) (Donnie Tillman steals)
17:40
Clayton Henry offensive rebound
17:40
Jabari Rice misses three point jump shot
17:38
Mikey Dixon defensive rebound
17:26
Mikey Dixon offensive foul
17:26
Mikey Dixon turnover
17:08
Donnie Tillman misses two point layup
17:06
Alessandro Lever defensive rebound
16:56
+2
Mikey Dixon makes two point jump shot (Alessandro Lever assists)
4-2
16:29
Donnie Tillman misses two point layup
16:27
Asbjorn Midtgaard defensive rebound
16:20
Alessandro Lever misses three point jump shot
16:18
Aggies defensive rebound
15:48
Johnny McCants misses two point jump shot
15:46
Gabe McGlothan defensive rebound
15:35
+3
Jovan Blacksher Jr. makes three point jump shot
4-5
15:21
Clayton Henry misses three point jump shot
15:19
Gabe McGlothan defensive rebound
15:00
Gabe McGlothan turnover (lost ball)
14:46
+2
Donnie Tillman makes two point layup
6-5
14:30
+2
Asbjorn Midtgaard makes two point hook shot
6-7
14:08
+3
Jabari Rice makes three point jump shot
9-7
13:48
+2
Jovan Blacksher Jr. makes two point fadeaway jump shot
9-9
13:32
Jabari Rice misses three point jump shot
13:30
Gabe McGlothan defensive rebound
13:16
Evan Gilyard II personal foul (Mikey Dixon draws the foul)
12:56
Antelopes turnover (shot clock violation)
12:56
Antelopes turnover (shot clock violation)
12:32
C.J. Roberts misses three point jump shot
12:30
Jovan Blacksher Jr. defensive rebound
12:11
+3
Chance McMillian makes three point jump shot (Gabe McGlothan assists)
9-12
11:51
Chance McMillian personal foul (C.J. Roberts draws the foul)
11:47
TV timeout
11:41
Jabari Rice misses three point jump shot
11:39
Chance McMillian defensive rebound
11:28
+2
Gabe McGlothan makes two point layup (Jovan Blacksher Jr. assists)
9-14
11:10
C.J. Roberts misses two point layup
11:08
Gabe McGlothan defensive rebound
10:49
Alessandro Lever misses two point floating jump shot
10:47
Sean Miller-Moore offensive rebound
10:39
+3
Jovan Blacksher Jr. makes three point jump shot
9-17
10:08
Kalen Williams turnover (lost ball) (Chance McMillian steals)
9:54
C.J. Roberts personal foul (Chance McMillian draws the foul)
9:38
Oscar Frayer misses three point jump shot
9:36
Johnny McCants defensive rebound
9:26
Johnny McCants misses three point jump shot
9:24
Gabe McGlothan defensive rebound
9:04
+2
Oscar Frayer makes two point layup (Asbjorn Midtgaard assists)
9-19
8:30
+3
Evan Gilyard II makes three point jump shot (Aggies assists)
12-19
8:41
Donnie Tillman misses two point layup
8:39
Aggies offensive rebound
8:30
+3
Evan Gilyard II makes three point jump shot
12-19
8:10
+3
Chance McMillian makes three point jump shot (Alessandro Lever assists)
12-22
7:52
+3
Evan Gilyard II makes three point jump shot
15-22
7:26
Chance McMillian misses three point jump shot
7:24
Asbjorn Midtgaard offensive rebound
7:12
Asbjorn Midtgaard misses two point jump shot
7:10
Donnie Tillman defensive rebound
7:01
Donnie Tillman misses three point jump shot
6:59
Chance McMillian defensive rebound
6:51
Alessandro Lever misses three point jump shot
6:49
Donnie Tillman defensive rebound
6:45
Evan Gilyard II misses three point jump shot
6:43
Chance McMillian defensive rebound
6:29
Mikey Dixon misses two point jump shot
6:27
Aggies defensive rebound
6:27
TV timeout
6:09
Gabe McGlothan personal foul
6:03
Jabari Rice misses two point jump shot
6:01
Alessandro Lever defensive rebound
5:40
Jovan Blacksher Jr. misses two point layup
5:38
Jovan Blacksher Jr. offensive rebound
5:28
Chance McMillian misses two point layup
5:26
Alessandro Lever offensive rebound
5:22
+2
Alessandro Lever makes two point turnaround hook shot
15-24
5:22
Johnny McCants shooting foul (Alessandro Lever draws the foul)
5:22
+1
Alessandro Lever makes regular free throw 1 of 1
15-25
5:04
Donnie Tillman offensive foul
5:04
Donnie Tillman turnover
4:56
+2
Jovan Blacksher Jr. makes two point jump shot
15-27
4:36
+3
Clayton Henry makes three point jump shot
18-27
4:17
+2
Alessandro Lever makes two point jump shot (Oscar Frayer assists)
18-29
3:58
Clayton Henry misses three point jump shot
3:57
Johnny McCants offensive rebound
3:56
Jump ball. (Aggies gains possession)
3:56
TV timeout
3:48
+3
Jabari Rice makes three point jump shot (William McNair assists)
21-29
3:19
+3
Chance McMillian makes three point jump shot (Sean Miller-Moore assists)
21-32
2:59
Johnny McCants misses three point jump shot
2:57
Jovan Blacksher Jr. defensive rebound
2:38
Sean Miller-Moore misses two point layup
2:36
William McNair defensive rebound
2:25
Jabari Rice misses two point jump shot
2:23
Asbjorn Midtgaard defensive rebound
2:13
William McNair shooting foul (Sean Miller-Moore draws the foul)
2:13
+1
Sean Miller-Moore makes regular free throw 1 of 2
21-33
2:13
+1
Sean Miller-Moore makes regular free throw 2 of 2
21-34
1:53
Jabari Rice turnover (bad pass) (Jovan Blacksher Jr. steals)
1:39
+2
Alessandro Lever makes two point layup
21-36
1:15
+3
Donnie Tillman makes three point jump shot (Evan Gilyard II assists)
24-36
0:51
+2
Jovan Blacksher Jr. makes two point jump shot (Alessandro Lever assists)
24-38
0:41
Evan Gilyard II misses three point jump shot
0:39
Johnny McCants offensive rebound
0:38
+2
Johnny McCants makes two point dunk
26-38
0:06
+3
Jovan Blacksher Jr. makes three point jump shot
26-41
0:00
Evan Gilyard II misses three point jump shot
0:00
Aggies offensive rebound
2nd Half
NMST
Aggies
30
GRCAN
Antelopes
33
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:46
Oscar Frayer misses two point layup
19:44
Aggies defensive rebound
19:44
Asbjorn Midtgaard personal foul
19:18
+3
Donnie Tillman makes three point jump shot (Evan Gilyard II assists)
29-41
18:55
+2
Oscar Frayer makes two point jump shot
29-43
18:30
Jabari Rice misses two point jump shot
18:28
Alessandro Lever defensive rebound
18:17
Jabari Rice personal foul
18:13
+2
Asbjorn Midtgaard makes two point layup
29-45
18:13
Donnie Tillman shooting foul (Asbjorn Midtgaard draws the foul)
18:13
+1
Asbjorn Midtgaard makes regular free throw 1 of 1
29-46
17:56
Evan Gilyard II misses three point jump shot
17:54
Asbjorn Midtgaard defensive rebound
17:39
Mikey Dixon offensive foul
17:39
Mikey Dixon turnover
17:29
+2
Evan Gilyard II makes two point layup
31-46
17:10
+3
Mikey Dixon makes three point jump shot
31-49
16:52
Johnny McCants misses three point jump shot
16:50
Mikey Dixon defensive rebound
16:40
Mikey Dixon misses three point jump shot
16:38
Clayton Henry defensive rebound
16:27
+2
Jabari Rice makes two point layup
33-49
16:06
Oscar Frayer misses three point jump shot
16:04
Donnie Tillman defensive rebound
15:43
TV timeout
15:26
Donnie Tillman misses three point jump shot
15:24
Chance McMillian defensive rebound
15:10
Alessandro Lever misses three point jump shot
15:08
Jovan Blacksher Jr. offensive rebound
14:53
+2
Jovan Blacksher Jr. makes two point layup
33-51
14:53
+2
C.J. Roberts makes two point jump shot
35-51
14:39
Alessandro Lever misses two point jump shot
14:37
Donnie Tillman defensive rebound
14:34
Official timeout
14:34
Gabe McGlothan flagrant 1 (Johnny McCants draws the foul)
14:34
+1
Johnny McCants makes flagrant free throw 1 of 2
36-51
14:34
+1
Johnny McCants makes flagrant free throw 2 of 2
37-51
14:06
Evan Gilyard II misses three point jump shot
14:04
Jovan Blacksher Jr. defensive rebound
14:04
Alessandro Lever personal foul
14:04
Johnny McCants personal foul
13:46
Chance McMillian turnover (Johnny McCants steals)
13:20
+2
Jabari Rice makes two point layup (Johnny McCants assists)
39-51
13:12
Antelopes 30 second timeout
13:12
TV timeout
13:02
+2
Asbjorn Midtgaard makes two point jump shot (Oscar Frayer assists)
39-53
12:40
Johnny McCants misses three point jump shot
12:38
Jovan Blacksher Jr. defensive rebound
12:19
+3
Oscar Frayer makes three point jump shot
39-56
12:07
Donnie Tillman turnover (traveling)
11:46
TV timeout
11:33
Jovan Blacksher Jr. misses three point jump shot
11:31
Antelopes offensive rebound
11:17
Oscar Frayer misses three point jump shot
11:15
Aggies defensive rebound
10:49
Johnny McCants turnover
10:33
Oscar Frayer misses three point jump shot
10:31
Aggies defensive rebound
10:30
Gabe McGlothan personal foul
10:06
Alessandro Lever personal foul
10:01
Alessandro Lever shooting foul (Donnie Tillman draws the foul)
10:01
Donnie Tillman misses regular free throw 1 of 2
10:01
+1
Donnie Tillman makes regular free throw 2 of 2
40-56
9:33
+2
Gabe McGlothan makes two point jump shot
40-58
9:16
Johnny McCants misses two point jump shot
9:14
Jabari Rice offensive rebound
9:11
+2
Jabari Rice makes two point layup
42-58
8:55
Gabe McGlothan misses two point jump shot
8:53
Jabari Rice defensive rebound
8:42
+2
C.J. Roberts makes two point jump shot
44-58
8:30
Antelopes 30 second timeout
8:30
TV timeout
8:18
Oscar Frayer misses three point jump shot
8:16
Jovan Blacksher Jr. offensive rebound
8:10
+2
Asbjorn Midtgaard makes two point dunk (Jovan Blacksher Jr. assists)
44-60
8:10
Wilfried Lakayi shooting foul (Asbjorn Midtgaard draws the foul)
8:10
+1
Asbjorn Midtgaard makes regular free throw 1 of 1
44-61
7:40
Jabari Rice turnover (Jovan Blacksher Jr. steals)
7:33
Jabari Rice blocks Mikey Dixon's two point layup
7:31
Jabari Rice defensive rebound
7:27
Donnie Tillman misses two point layup
7:25
Asbjorn Midtgaard defensive rebound
7:17
Jovan Blacksher Jr. misses two point jump shot
7:15
Asbjorn Midtgaard offensive rebound
7:10
+2
Asbjorn Midtgaard makes two point layup
44-63
6:44
C.J. Roberts misses two point jump shot
6:42
Gabe McGlothan defensive rebound
6:18
Mikey Dixon misses two point layup
6:16
C.J. Roberts defensive rebound
6:06
Wilfried Lakayi misses three point jump shot
6:04
Asbjorn Midtgaard defensive rebound
5:35
Mikey Dixon turnover (Jabari Rice steals)
5:28
+3
Evan Gilyard II makes three point jump shot (Jabari Rice assists)
47-63
5:27
Aggies 30 second timeout
5:04
Chance McMillian turnover (Evan Gilyard II steals)
4:54
+3
Evan Gilyard II makes three point jump shot
50-63
4:39
Evan Gilyard II shooting foul (Oscar Frayer draws the foul)
4:39
Oscar Frayer misses regular free throw 1 of 2
4:39
Oscar Frayer misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:39
Wilfried Lakayi defensive rebound
4:20
Evan Gilyard II misses three point jump shot
4:18
Clayton Henry offensive rebound
4:11
Clayton Henry turnover (Jovan Blacksher Jr. steals)
4:03
Alessandro Lever misses three point jump shot
4:01
Antelopes offensive rebound
3:59
TV timeout
3:38
Sean Miller-Moore misses two point jump shot
3:36
Alessandro Lever offensive rebound
3:26
Evan Gilyard II personal foul
3:09
Asbjorn Midtgaard misses two point jump shot
3:07
Donnie Tillman defensive rebound
2:45
Johnny McCants misses three point jump shot
2:43
Antelopes defensive rebound
2:35
Evan Gilyard II personal foul (Oscar Frayer draws the foul)
2:35
Oscar Frayer misses regular free throw 1 of 1
2:35
Johnny McCants defensive rebound
2:31
Evan Gilyard II turnover (bad pass)
2:22
Clayton Henry personal foul (Oscar Frayer draws the foul)
2:22
+1
Oscar Frayer makes regular free throw 1 of 2
50-64
2:22
+1
Oscar Frayer makes regular free throw 2 of 2
50-65
2:10
Jovan Blacksher Jr. personal foul (Evan Gilyard II draws the foul)
2:10
+1
Evan Gilyard II makes regular free throw 1 of 2
51-65
2:10
+1
Evan Gilyard II makes regular free throw 2 of 2
52-65
2:00
Johnny McCants personal foul (Jovan Blacksher Jr. draws the foul)
2:00
+1
Jovan Blacksher Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
52-66
2:00
+1
Jovan Blacksher Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
52-67
1:48
Clayton Henry misses three point jump shot
1:46
Mikey Dixon defensive rebound
1:44
Donnie Tillman personal foul (Mikey Dixon draws the foul)
1:44
Mikey Dixon misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:44
+1
Mikey Dixon makes regular free throw 2 of 2
52-68
1:28
+2
Clayton Henry makes two point jump shot
54-68
1:24
Jabari Rice personal foul (Mikey Dixon draws the foul)
1:11
Jabari Rice misses three point jump shot
1:09
Mikey Dixon defensive rebound
1:07
Johnny McCants personal foul (Mikey Dixon draws the foul)
1:07
+1
Mikey Dixon makes regular free throw 1 of 2
54-71
1:07
+1
Mikey Dixon makes regular free throw 2 of 2
54-72
0:56
Liam Lloyd shooting foul (Gerald Doakes draws the foul)
0:56
Gerald Doakes misses regular free throw 1 of 3
0:56
+1
Gerald Doakes makes regular free throw 3 of 3
56-72
0:41
+2
Bryce Okpoh makes two point jump shot (Liam Lloyd assists)
