Grand Canyon University completed its Canadian road trip with an impressive 107-78 win over Trinity Western in Langley, British Columbia. This success came after an earlier victory in West Vancouver, where the team showed significant improvement in their unity and understanding while playing together.
A decisive 24-5 run spanning the second and third quarters proved pivotal. Despite working with just nine players, the Lopes maintained a balanced attack with six scoring in double digits. Junior guard Jaden Zimmerman was the standout, scoring 24 points and adapting his offensive approach from the previous game.
Team-Building Activities Boost Performance
Head coach Bryce Drew acknowledged the positive impact of activities like chairlift rides, tandem paragliding, and a harbor cruise during the trip. These shared experiences seemed to enhance the team's communication and energy on the court.
Drew was astonished by how quickly the players developed a strong connection despite a 48-hour break between games, during which they did not even touch a basketball. The time away helped the team gain new perspectives, strengthen their chemistry, and directly benefited their performance.
Senior center Tyler Behrend was crucial to the victory, delivering a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. He spoke about the team’s determination to avoid underperformance, recalling the team meeting held after their win over Mount Royal.
The Lopes' ball-sharing offense proved effective, with the team converting 57.6% of their field goals. This demonstrated their commitment to playing as a unit. They also limited Trinity Western to 34.3% shooting, replicating the defensive success from their earlier game.
Zimmerman's adaptability and versatility in scoring stood out. He shifted his strategy from the previous game, focusing more on inside scoring while decreasing his attempts from long range. His performance included 11-for-19 shooting, two three-pointers, and six assists.
Zimmerman's Adjustments Lead to Stronger Performance
Zimmerman credited his success to allowing the game to unfold naturally, in contrast to his attempts to force plays in the earlier match. He stressed that his driving ability created open shot opportunities, and he used this to his advantage effectively.
Freshman forward Barkley also played a major role, hitting three early 3-pointers and finishing with 21 points. His ability to fill an unexpected small forward role was important to the Lopes' success.
The Lopes' defensive efforts were notable. They matched their earlier game's performance by preventing Trinity Western from scoring a single field goal for a six-minute stretch, just as they did in their Mount Royal game.
Zimmerman's comments on the team's improved synergy highlight the positive impact of their shared experiences. He noted that after the game following their Mount Royal win, the team discussed ways to improve and implemented those lessons effectively in the next contest.
Adaptability and Team Chemistry Secure Victory
Despite working with limited offensive systems and a 24-second shot clock, GCU demonstrated adaptability and efficient execution. Their ability to assist on 25 out of 38 made field goals underlined the team's selfless play against Trinity Western's changing defensive strategies. The Lopes' Canadian tour had included games against formidable teams like Purdue and Marquette, where Trinity Western had already faced challenges.
Zimmerman's development over the two games was particularly notable. In the first contest, his most memorable basket was a left-handed drive finished with a right-handed reverse. However, he struggled with 3-point shooting, making zero of six attempts, but was perfect on his three attempts from inside the arc. In contrast, he went 7 for 8 from the field in the first half of the Langley game without attempting any 3-pointers.
Behrend stressed the team's commitment to raising their intensity and effort levels. We showed that today.”
Drew pointed to a noticeable comfort level in Zimmerman’s performance, particularly as his scoring began to build midway through the second quarter with three consecutive trips. Behrend assisted Zimmerman with a backdoor slam before a pair of mid-range jumpers, highlighting the team’s collaborative play style.
Zimmerman’s approach this time was more measured. “I've just got to play hard, do the right things and let the game come to me,” he said. This game, I was going to let the game come to me, and it went well.” Barkley’s early three-point shooting helped GCU establish a 24-10 lead within the first 7:18 minutes of the game.
