Grand Canyon University is no longer considered to be a dark horse sleeper team in college basketball. The Antelopes won 30 games last season and won a game during March Madness.
Expectations are equally as high, if not greater for 2024-25, but their opponents are not showing any mercy.
Head coach Bryce Drew, most famous for his buzzer-beater against Ole Miss in the 1998 NCAA Tournament, has this team in great position to compete. It began the new year at 1-0 with a win over Cal State Fullerton at home earlier this week. Former Butler and TCU transfer JaKobe Coles led the team with 25 points. Incumbent starting point guard Rayshon Harrison scored 21.
Game one, game won. ☑️🎬#LopesUp pic.twitter.com/cGIxxeLxWr
— Grand Canyon Men’s Basketball (@GCU_MBB) November 6, 2024
Grand Canyon allowed the visitors to hang around in the first half but it eventually pulled away during the second half. The Antelopes defeated the Titans 89-79.
Freshman Styles Phipps will be an important role player for the WAC favorites. The four-star guard added five points and three rebounds in 17 minutes off of the bench during the 10-point win.
He also dealt with some unusual adversity during his college basketball debut!
Fullerton forward Davis Bynum tried to block Phipps during the second half. Although the defender got all ball, it was the entirely wrong ball…
Bynum turned his hand all of the way around to hit Phipps where the sun does not shine. He did not backhand checked him. He did not kick catch him with his wrist. It was palm right to gonads.
The clearly intentional dirty play was caught on camera:
Officials noticed Bynum’s cheap shot. Upon further review, he was charged with a Flagrant 2 foul, which resulted in his ejection. Based on the video, that was the correct decision!
Phipps caught a hand directly to his groin and it was not an accidental swipe.