Wolf Pack Outlast Grand Canyon in 3-Hour, 51-Foul Quarterfinal Battle
Nevada’s Corey Camper Jr. (4) drives around Grand Canyon’s Dusty Stromer (8) in the MWC quarterfinal game in Las Vegas, NV. Photo: Erik Moulton/The Pit Press
Thursday’s second Mountain West Quarterfinal between the four seed Grand Canyon and the five seed Nevada was a foul fest.
The Mountain West officiating crew of Nate Harris, Scott Brown, and Steve McJunkins called 51 combined fouls which led to more made free throws than field goals, and a 3-hour game.
In between all of the blown whistles, it was Nevada who found more consistent offense in the second half that led to a 84 to 80 win for the Wolf Pack.
Nevada trailed 40-34 at half time, but started the second half on a 8-0 run behind the hot shooting of All Mountain West First-Team Selection Corey Camper Jr.
Photo: Erik Moulton/The Pit Press
Camper led all scorers for both teams with 27 points on an efficient 8-of-13 shooting.
Nevada and Grand Canyon traded punches back and forth in the second half as there were 7 lead changes and 4 ties, but it was Nevada who made the critical free throws down the stretch to ice the game.
Grand Canyon led by as many as 12 points in the first half. The Lopes had a stretch of hot 3-point shooting from guard Brian Moore Jr. who buried two triples in the firs t half to give the Lopes a large cushion.
GCU hit three 3-pointers in the second half, but only shot six, as Nevada seemed to run the Lopes off the 3-point line.
Makai Williams led all scorers for GCU with 25 points while MW First Team All Conference forward Jaden Henley added 19.
GCU’s student section the Havocs had a strong showing, and all the purple in the Tomas & Mack Center made it look like it was a home game for Grand Canyon.
Ultimately, Nevada’s poise down the stretch was the difference as the Wolfpack will advance to the semi-final round against Utah State.
Photo: Erik Moulton/The Pit Press
