Georgia

What we learned in Grand Canyon basketball losses to Georgia, Louisiana Tech

Published

1 year ago

December 17, 2024

Press Room

What we learned in Grand Canyon basketball losses to Georgia, Louisiana Tech

Grand Canyon lost a chance to make a big statement during its trip through the South.

The Lopes (6-4) had won four straight with their full team, after getting center Duke Brennan back from an injury.

But in a 73-68 loss to Georgia (9-1) on Saturday, followed by a 74-66 loss to Louisiana Tech on Monday, their biggest star, WAC Preseason Player of the Year Tyon Grant-Foster, had his two worst games since joining the Lopes last year and leading them to an historic 30-win season.

He shot a combined 2 for 25 in the losses, missing all 13 3-pointers he took. This is baffling for last year’s WAC Player of the Year, who averaged 20 points in his first college season in two years, leading the Lopes to their first NCAA Tournament win last season.

To make matters worse Monday night at Louisiana Tech (10-2), guard Ray Harrison was only 1 of 10 shooting, making just 1 of 7 3-pointers, two days after he led GCU with 16 points, making 2 of 4 3s, against Georgia.

Here are takeaways from this two-game swing as the Lopes look to recover Thursday night at home against 0-12 Chicago State. That will be followed by a 2 p.m. home game Sunday against Saint Louis:

Shooting woes

It wasn’t just Grant-Foster who struggled. The Lopes made only 7 of 27 3-pointers against Georgia and 2 of 27 from behind the arc against Louisiana Tech.

This was supposed to be a roster built to make 3-pointers. JaKobe Coles came from TCU, where he was a 42% shooter from 3. Coles was 1 of 5 from 3-point range against Georgia and 1 of 3 against Louisiana Tech. He led the Lopes with 19 points on 7 of 13 field-goal shooting against Louisiana Tech.

Both Coles and Grant-Foster missed open 3s in the final minute of the Georgia game. If either of them knock down a 3, it could have been a different outcome.

In the 75-68 home loss to UC Davis, the Lopes made just 4 of 25 3-pointers. Even against NAIA Life Pacific, a team the Lopes beat 100-52 before hitting the road, they made only 8 of 28 3-pointers.

On the season, Harrison has made 11 of 40 3-pointers (27.5%) and Grant-Foster 6 of 39 (15%). Last season, Grant-Foster, who made his living at the free-throw line, drawing fouls on quick moves to the basket, made 33% of his 3s (50 of 151), the second-best shooting percentage from the arc on the team, behind Gabe McGlothan (39.8%).

Against Louisiana Tech, the Lopes were within two points with 2:13 left, but got outscored 6-0 in the end.

“Sometimes the ball just doesn’t go in for him,” coach Bryce Drew said in the postgame GCU radio interview about Grant-Foster, who missed the first two games this season. “It’s not going in right now. There’s other parts of his game that he can do. I thought at Georgia he did a great job getting six steals.

“He’s a much better player than he’s playing. My job as a coach is we’ve got to get it out of him. We’ve been trying different things in the last month, and we’re going to keep trying more things to get him back on track.”

Scheduling

Because the WAC and Conference USA were locked into a contract to have non-conference games against each other, GCU had to go to Louisiana Tech in this home-and-home series. Last year, GCU pulled out a 73-70 win over Louisiana Tech at home. This game happened to fall two days after facing Georgia against a pro-Bulldogs crowd at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

“The scheduling has been very difficult,” Drew said. “We would never ever played this game where we played it. It’s the Conference USA challenge with the WAC, so we had this game. We had a chance to play Georgia, a top-40 team, in Atlanta. We didn’t want to turn that game down.”

But Drew added he didn’t want to use the Georgia game as an excuse.

“I’ve got to do a better job in the future with scheduling,” he said. “It’s super hard to get games. Doing a back-to-back basically after a super physical Georgia game, and, for 40 minutes, I think you saw the legs come out a little bit on some of our 3-point shooting.”

Brennan not backing down

The overall play of 6-foot-10 Brennan has been a bright spot since his return from a shoulder injury that caused him to miss the first four games.

Brennan had 13 points on 5 of 6 shootings and pulled down seven rebounds against Louisiana Tech. He got big man Daniel Batcho to pick up two fouls and head to the bench after Louisiana Tech jumped out to a 13-2 lead.

GCU pulled ahead of Louisiana Tech late in the first half, but that couldn’t be sustained, as Batcho returned and finished with 19 points and seven rebounds without picking up another foul. Sean Newman Jr., had his season-average nine assists to go with 25 points.

Brennan had 10 points and eight rebounds against a big Georgia team that blocked nine GCU shots. Earlier this season, Brennan played well in the 78-71 Stanford win with 14 points and eight rebounds, going against Maxime Raynaud (29 points, 11 rebounds).

Georgia center Somto Cyril had 12 points, eight rebounds and five blocks against GCU.

“We’ve played three really good centers so far, and you look at those, and they’re as good as any center in the country,” Drew said. “Hopefully, we’re done playing that size and length for a while.

“Obviously, Saint Louis (Sunday’s home opponent) has a good center (Robbie Avila) but he’s a different kind of center. This stuff is going to make us better. It’s going to make our bigs better, our guards better, finishing, and also show what we need to work on in practice to get better.”

Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. He also covers Grand Canyon University athletics and the Arizona Rattlers. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert

Source link

Click to comment

Georgia

Amid tariff and trade confusion, Georgia posted record exports in 2025

Published

10 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Amid tariff and trade confusion, Georgia posted record exports in 2025

Business

The value of Georgia products sold overseas surpassed $60 billion last year, state officials said.

Georgia was ninth in the U.S. for exports in 2025, propped up by its logistics infrastructure of the world’s busiest airport, an extensive railroad network and the ports of Brunswick and Savannah (pictured). (Courtesy of Georgia Ports Authority 2024)

Despite a barrage of new tariffs imposed across the globe, Georgia saw another record year for international trade in 2025.

Total trade last year reached nearly $211 billion, up almost 6% from 2024. Imports, subject to many tariffs enacted by the Trump administration, made up most of that activity, growing about 3% to more than $150 billion, according to a state report released Thursday.

raey eulav edart ot ot taerht eht eht eht eht eht eht sffirat sffirat dessaprus etats dlos deppals esnopser drocer gnilleporp stcudorp stcudorp roirp .seicilop ,saesrevo rehto ro ro ro no fo fo tsegral-htnin ynam gnipmuj ni ni nworg morf morf ,stropxe retropxe etipsed seirtnuoc ,noillib emoceb dna tsomla evissergga a .S.U s’pmurT sihT tnediserP edam-aigroeG aigroeG dlanoD tuB %31 06$

saw pot emit eht eht eht eht etats etats .dias deknar slaiciffo tsil tsal ni ni retropxe .yrtnuoc ekorb sa ehT nI aigroeG ,4202 ,0202 tsegral-ht21 01

edart eht eht htgnerts etats slangis .dias ecneserp slaiciffo fo krowten gnirutcafunam scitsigol sti sti ,seirtsudni labolg yawetag rof noisnapxe ,evitomotua sa dna dna erutlucirga ,ecapsorea decnavda a s’aigroeG

s’aigroeG“ aigroeG“ raey-revo-raey ”,seulav edart eht eht eht ylppus setats etats tfihs dias .esaeler ,ecap gnicaptuo seitinutroppo fo fo ton wen noitan evom skram gnipeek tsuj ti si si otni ni ni ni ni sthgilhgih htworg labolg rof gnitropxe tropxe renoissimmoc sniahc dna dna dna a a ,nosliW .S.U poT tsaehtuoS taP cimonocE ,tnempoleveD tnemtrapeD ”.aisA 01

raey edart .seicilop fo htworg labolg gnirud gnitneirosid emac a s’aigroeG

dluow htiw hcihw gnidart edart pot ot ot tuohguorht eht eht eht sexat ,sffirat sffirat hcus thguos emos seires dias detailater ,srentrap stcap ro no no fo fo wen wen wen sboj tnemtsevni kni gnidulcni desopmi detropmi ,sdoog ngierof yllautneve seirtnuoc gnirb tsoob sa era dna dna a .S.U .S.U pmurT pmurT .ocixeM ynaM s’aigroeG adanaC ,5202

htiw drawpu ot eht erusserp ,strap no fo erom ynam ekam edam detropmi sdoog ngierof stropxe evisnepxe .rallod nac ,sreyub esuaceb sa era dna osla osla .S.U .S.U sffiraT

ot ot eht eht sffirat ,etats llams fo fo evah tsom-htruof detamitse tsoc sremusnoc noitilaoc sessenisub ssenisub noillib sa era yna dna dna tsivitca gnidrocca ediwdlroW eW edarT ehT .sffiraT yaP pihsrentraP aigroeG ,rebmeceD 31$

tuohtiw saw dewov rednu rednu ot ot taht yraropmet sffirat sffirat kees delur ylkciuq srewop tnenamrep .seno wen erom htnom msinahcem lagel wal tsal ti desopmi esopmi lagelli sah rof ycnegreme tnereffid lanoissergnoc .lavorppa dna na a .S.U pmurT pmurT ehT emerpuS truoC tuB

tI“ tI“ erehw rednu edart sffirat sffirat sffirat tnemetats dias niamer stcelfer laer ”.ytilibissop ycilop rehto fo ton naem gniganam ni gniog rof mrif gnivlove tnemnorivne seod rotcerid smotsuc ssenisub redaorb ”,yawa seitirohtua era dna dna dna yrosivda lanoitidda gnitnuocca a a a .yadsruhT yaJ ,ohC desab-atnaltA ,oirpA

raey htiw eulav pu pot ot ot ot esoht eht eht eht hcus s’etats tsubor niamer ,strap fo don ,yrtsudni ni emoh gniworg sdoog morf stropxe seinapmoc nailivic noillib noillib .erofeb sa dna dna yrallicna tfarcria ecapsorea a .nitraM deehkcoL s’tI maertsfluG s’aigroeG .proC ecapsoreA ,5202 4.61$ 6.21$

,selcihev pot rehto krowten rotom lacidem dedulcni stropxe tnempiuqe .secived ,sretupmoc snoitacinummoc dna s’aigroeG

Georgia’s top exported product in 2025 was civilian aircraft and ancillary parts, such as Gulfstream’s G500 and G600 aircraft seen on the assembly line in Savannah in December. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

erew pot eht eht rof .stropxe snoitanitsed dna ,eropagniS sdnalrehteN ,ocixeM ynamreG aigroeG ,adanaC

eulav ,edart latot eht eht naht etats tops htneves esor .knar secalp eno fo fo won rewol sti ni ni rof rallod sa .S.U anaidnI aigroeG 4202

s’dlrow htiw eht eht daorliar strop fo krowten gnol scitsigol buh sah evisnetxe tseisub neeb dna dna na ,tropria a hannavaS aigroeG .kciwsnurB

ohw“ dlrow eulav detuot sdnasuoht eht eht eht eht eht etats llams nwohs ,esaeler ”.tcudorp fo fo ni evah eritne sessenisub osla ssorca a ,pmeK .voG edam-aigroeG nairB

htiW“ sraey elihw llew ew edart ot ot ot eht .dias sdrocer denoitisop strop ruo rehto erom ekam scitsigol yek si stnemtsevni dnalni ,erutcurtsarfni ni ni eh worg neve gniunitnoc ”,emoc latsaoc yticapac kaerb dna aigroeG

Amy Wenk is the consumer brands reporter for the AJC.

Source link

Georgia

Cal Men’s Basketball: Bears Stay Focused and Outlast a Beleaguered Georgia Tech 76-65

Published

22 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Cal Men’s Basketball: Bears Stay Focused and Outlast a Beleaguered Georgia Tech 76-65

image courtesy of @CalMBBAll

Cal entered tonight’s matchup against a destitute Georgia Tech side dusting themselves off from an unexpected loss to a middle of the road Pitt team. The Golden Bears were looking to stay on the bubble of the NCAA tournament, while Tech, who finished last in ACC play, were simply trying to finish out their season with pride. This game marked the beginning of what will prove to be a long road trip for the boys from Berkeley.

Tech came out red hot from 3, thanks to forward Kowacie Reeves, who went 5-8 from behind the arc in the first half, while the entire Cal team was 0-12. His 19 points provided the difference in a first half with long stretches where neither team could put the ball in the basket.

Cal were frustrated early offensively, with Justin Pippen and Dai Dai Ames held scoreless in the first half. Lee Dort proved his offensive value, as the highest scorer for the Bears in the first half, particularly finding success in the paint, and they started the second half off feeding him early inside with some success.

The Bears opened the second half strong, finding ways to run their sets and get more players looks around the basket. Simultaneously, Camden began to find his shot from three, and things began to fall into place for a Cal side that was already having a decent night on the boards.

Georgia Tech could not keep pace once Cal’s offense found a rythm, though they would have to do so without any scoring contributions from Justin Pippen, who went 0-7 from the field, but closed out the night with eight assists and two rebounds.

Ultimately, Tech’s 18 turnovers, and Cal’s persistence gave way to a Bears lead that wouldn’t be overcome. The Yellow Jackets did not have an answer for Lee Dort’s efforts in the paint, and when Dai Dai Ames found his footing on offense, eventually the game was all but finished. Despite a valiant effort, the Yellow Jackets could not maintain an offensive pace or defensive effort to keep up with Cal, who face Wake Forest this Saturday in another must win.

Source link

Georgia

Georgia Lt. Gov. candidate releases controversial ‘Sharia law’ video

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Georgia Lt. Gov. candidate releases controversial ‘Sharia law’ video

In the days since the initial U.S. strikes in Iran, countless lawmakers stateside have weighed in on the Trump Administration’s decision to once again get involved in a conflict in the Middle East.

Prominent Georgia political figures like former representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and Senators Ossoff and Warnock have denounced the attacks, while candidates to replace MTG and others running in midterm elections have backed the president.

Now, Georgia State Senator Greg Dolezal, who is running for Lieutenant Governor in November, has posted a controversial video to social media depicting a hypothetical scenario where an extreme version of what he calls “Sharia law” has taken over the United States.

“London has fallen. Europe is under siege. In America, the invaders who would rather pillage our generosity than assimilate are roaming Minnesota, New York and LA,” Dolezal said in the post. “As Lt. Governor, I will fight the enemy before they’re within the gates and keep Georgia safe and Sharia free.”

The video was marked with a content warning on X.

What does the video show?

The video, appearing to have been AI-generated, begins with two people walking toward a building and wearing head coverings, possibly hijabs, shaylas, Al-miras or khimars.

It then cuts to a man writing with frosting on a cake, possibly “Happy Easter,” but the letters are unclear. A figure dressed in all black runs into frame and slices the cake with a weapon like a Zulfiqar sword.

It goes on to show military vehicles driving down the street, a woman being stopped from driving, a group of men in head coverings shooting weapons into the air and a suicide bomber vest, all while playing a song with the lyrics “No Sharia.”

(Warning: the video may be disturbing for some viewers.)

Video called ‘disgusting’ and ‘racist’

The video was met with significant criticism, including from Democratic gubernatorial candidate Geoff Duncan.

“This is disgusting. People wonder why I became a Democrat, it’s because of the inexcusable hatred spewed by so many Republicans like Greg Dolezal. Hate, including Islamophobia, has no place in Georgia,” Duncan wrote on X.

Rev. James “Major” Woodall, Sr., of Atlanta, called the video “deeply racist.”

“As a Christian man who deeply loves Georgia, I pray you never become Lt. Governor,” Woodall wrote.

Emanuel Jones, of the state senate, called out his fellow representative and said “if you don’t know it yet, Georgia is better than this!!”

“We don’t need race baiting, fear mongering to get votes. Perhaps that (is) what the Republican Party has devolved into,” Jones said on X.

Dolezal got support, however, from MAGA personality Laura Loomer who commented “No Sharia!”

The video has also been reposted more than 1,000 times as of 2 p.m. on March 4.

Who is Greg Dolezal?

The state senator represents District 27, and is based in Alpharetta. He was sworn in to the Georgia Senate in 2019.

He is a small business owner and attended North Park University.

Irene Wright is the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.

Source link