NCAAB Game Recap - Grand Canyon at San Diego State
Wed Nov 13, 2019 10:00 PM EST

IndSt
62
Lou
91
F
Vill
51
OhSt
76
F
TxTch
103
HCU
74
F
LSU
82
VCU
84
F
(N/A)
57
UMBC
79
F
(N/A)
48
JMU
96
F
IUPUI
70
SoFL
53
F
Boston
47
Vermt
62
F
McNee
63
Wisc
83
F
Canis
57
Albany
83
F
Mia-O
84
IPFW
80
F
UNCA
79
Wake
98
F
USC-Up
57
VaTec
80
F
Colg
54
Syr
70
F
Bry
69
StPet
44
F
Lafy
72
Princ
65
F
LaSal
59
Penn
75
F
LoyMD
53
ODU
62
F
StFPA
71
Morg
65
F
Ohio
81
Iona
72
F
LIU
74
GMas
80
F
FaDi
50
Ford
53
F
NJIT
59
Corn
58
F
StJos
96
UConn
87
F
Bingha
63
Colum
75
F
Hof
71
Buck
86
F
Quin
68
Brown
70
F
HiPt
33
BC
59
F
VAWis
64
Samf
102
F
(N/A)
82
MTSU
96
F
Niag
80
SFA
89
F
TN-M
98
W IL
91
F
Gram
81
SeLA
70
F
PaulQ
66
Nich
81
F
E WA
60
StLou
82
F
CSBak
55
NrthIA
67
F
Monm
54
KSU
73
F
Ball
67
IL-C
48
F
UMKC
58
Drake
76
F
Drex
57
Rut
62
F
Purd
55
Marq
65
F
CS-Ful
60
Wyo
53
F
WIGB
78
NM
93
F
NebOm
65
ColSt
80
F
S UT
63
BYU
68
F
Prov
63
NW
72
F
FIU
77
NCSU
86
F
OkSt
73
Charl
54
F
GrCan
61
SDSU
86
F

Nov 13, 2019, 10:00 PM EST

Final

1

2

T

Grand Canyon

24

37

61

San Diego State

40

46

86

Flynn, Mensah help SDSU beat Grand Canyon, 86-61
Thu Nov 14, 2019 1:02 AM

SAN DIEGO (AP) First a win at BYU and then finally, a win against pesky Grand Canyon.

It's been a big five-day stretch for San Diego State, which dominated inside and outside against Grand Canyon to win 86-61 Tuesday night. Malachi Flynn and Nathan Mensah each scored 14 points.

KJ Feagin added 13 points for SDSU (3-0), which was coming off a big 76-71 win at former conference rival BYU on Saturday.

Grand Canyon (0-3) had won its previous two games against the Aztecs in San Diego, plus the most recent game in the series, a 76-72 victory in Phoenix on Dec. 7, 2016.

"Coach Dutch (Brian Dutcher) was really on edge coming into this game," Feagin said. "I knew he wanted this win. Coach Dave (Velasquez) talked about how we'd never beat them before and being a part of the team that got the win at BYU, now let's turn around and get Grand Canyon, so I'm happy that we accomplished both missions."

Dutcher said the win was "very satisfying. We knew that we'd lost, since we've been here, Coach (Steve) Fisher and I, twice to Grand Canyon, both important, critical games. At the time it doesn't seem that way but when the season finishes up you have that loss on your record and we knew it hurt us. We wanted to come out and play at a high level because we knew they were a very good opponent."

Dutcher succeeded Fisher as head coach after the 2016-17 season.

Leading 15-14, SDSU got hot from inside and outside and raced to a 30-18 lead. Matt Mitchell hit a 3-pointer and a fall-away jumper during the big run.

The Aztecs twice hit consecutive 3-pointers in the first half. Feagin and Mitchell did it early on and then Adam Seiko and Keshad Johnson did it to give SDSU a 36-22 lead with six minutes before halftime.

GCU went scoreless for the final five minutes of the first half as SDSU jumped to a 40-24 lead.

"Offensively when you have 35 baskets and 25 assists, you're playing the game the right way," Dutcher said. "Overall, offensively we shared the ball as well as we have all year. We ended up outrebounding them for the game, which pleased me."

Flynn had nine assists and Feagin had seven.

"I'm proud of the way we played," Feagin said. "I think it was right in our game plan and coaches were preaching that to us at halftime, just to keep sharing the ball."

Lorenzo Jenkins scored 15 for GCU, while Jovan Blacksher Jr. had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Isiah Brown and Carlos Johnson had 10 points each.

"We're not going to turn this around anytime soon until they figure it out," GCU coach Dan Majerle said. "It's just not good enough. We're not tough enough, we're not playing hard enough, we're not playing disciplined enough. Just very disappointed. We have stretches where we play well, and then we go away from it."

SDSU had a 21-point lead early in the second half before GCU closed to 11.

"We knew they had a run in them and they put a little run in the second half but we kind of withstood it and kind of maintained it for a while, then built the lead back," Dutcher said.

BIG PICTURE

Grand Canyon: Majerle was unhappy with his players most of the night. To make things worse, Mitchell made a nice shot during SDSU's big run and then said something to the former NBA player, who jumped out of his seat. A referee said, "I'll take care of this," and whistled Mitchell for a technical. "He just made a shot, like any college athlete does, and turns around and acts like he's Michael Jordan," Majerle said. "Nobody said anything to him. Nice turnaround jumper. Very nice. Very impressive. Good. It's just the culture of kids today."

Said Dutcher: "I told Matt, `Don't do it again.' Emotion's part of the game and I want it played emotionally but we have to play smart. I know Dan wasn't very happy. I wouldn't be either so I can understand that."

San Diego State: The Aztecs are off to their first 3-0 start since their NCAA Tournament season of 2014-15. It has advanced to the NCAAs each of the last three times it started 3-0.

UP NEXT

Grand Canyon hosts Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday night.

San Diego State visits crosstown rival San Diego on Wednesday night. The Toreros stunned the Aztecs by 12 points at Viejas Arena last season.

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Leaders

Grand Canyon PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
L. Jenkins 15 0 0 4 0 0
J. Blacksher 14 0 2 10 1 0
San Diego State PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
N. Mensah 14 0 0 9 0 1
M. Flynn 14 0 9 0 1 0

Team Comparison

GrCan SDSU
Points For 61 86
Field Goals 19/52-37% 35/64-55%
Three Pointers 4/18-22% 13/27-48%
Free Throws 19/25-76% 3/7-43%
Offensive Rebounds 9 8
Defensive Rebounds 23 29
Rebounds 34 38
Blocks 0 5
Steals 4 3
Turnovers 12 7
Personal Fouls 14 19
Technical Fouls 0 0
Ejections 0 0

2019-20 Reg Season - SDSU Leads Series 1-0

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Wed Nov 13 GrCan 61 @ SDSU 86 L. Jenkins 15 N. Mensah 14

Game Information

Stadium: Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl, San Diego, California
Attendance: 10,440
Game Time: