Jordan Caroline had 22 points and 14 rebounds, and No. 6 Nevada used a late run to finally shake Grand Canyon for a 74-66 victory Sunday in the Colangelo Classic at Talking Stick Resort Arena.
"Wasn't pretty; from our standpoint, it was our worst game of the year," Nevada coach Eric Musselman said. "But our locker room is extremely happy."
Nevada (10-0) had a short turnaround after playing No. 20 Arizona State late Friday night and found itself in what felt like a home environment for Grand Canyon. The Lopes were looking for their first-ever win against a top-25 team.
Spurred by the road version of the rowdy Havocs student section, the Antelopes (5-4) held Nevada scoreless the opening 5 1/2 minutes and were within two at halftime.
The @GCUHavocs are ready! pic.twitter.com/1SK5Z2kOn1
— ABC15 Sports (@abc15sports) December 9, 2018
Big basket for @GCU_MBB before halftime!
The Lopes trail No. 6 Nevada by just two points at halftime. Can they get their first-ever victory over a top-25 team? pic.twitter.com/67ezU9AnYR
— ABC15 Sports (@abc15sports) December 9, 2018
Grand Canyon continued to keep the Wolf Pack within reach, rallying each time Nevada tried to run away with it. Nevada finally put it away in the final two minutes, going on a 9-0 run to go up 71-61.
Jazz Johnson had 19 points and Caleb Martin finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Wolf Pack, off to their best start of the program's Division I era (1969-70).
Trey Drechsel had 16 points and Alessandro Lever 13 for Grand Canyon.
"I expected us to play but to be honest, I'm tired of saying our team plays well and we lose," Grand Canyon coach Dan Majerle said. "I don't care if it's the No. 6 team or whatever. We have high expectations where we want to be as a program."
The @GCU_Lopes gave No. 6 Nevada all it could handle in Phoenix on Sunday.
But Coach @DanMajerle says it's time for the Lopes to start winning those games. pic.twitter.com/QyIWjk1X9Y
— ABC15 Sports (@abc15sports) December 10, 2018
The Wolf Pack got off to a shaky start against the Sun Devils on Friday in Los Angeles, falling into an 11-point hole before rallying in the second half for a 72-66 win.
Playing in what felt an Antelopes' home game, Nevada found itself down 11-0 in the opening five minutes while missing its first five shots.
The Wolf Pack looked as if they were ready to run away with it, going on a 16-5 run to go up 27-22. The Antelopes wouldn't let them get out of reach, pulling to 34-32 at halftime on Matt Johnson's last-second jumper.
Nevada used a short burst to take a seven-point lead, yet couldn't shake the Antelopes and their roar-with-every-basket student section before finally pulling it out.
"It felt like an away game; it was supposed to be `neutral site'," Caroline said. "But I like playing in places like that."
Grand Canyon gave a Top 10 team all it could ask for, which should bode well for when the WAC season starts after the New Year.
"We keep emphasizing to our guys that we have to be the toughest team on the floor for 40 minutes all the time," Majerle said. "And that's not going to change in the WAC. The WAC has some very good teams
Nevada had a short turnaround, played one of its worst games of the season in a hostile environment, yet still found a way to win.
