PHOENIX, Ariz. – Brian Moore Jr. scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half on Friday night, but Norfolk State basketball team couldn't slow down a red-hot shooting night from Grand Canyon in a 91-73 road loss at Global Credit Union Arena.
 
The Lopes (3-2) knocked down 14 3-pointers on their home floor to keep the Spartans (4-3) from mountain any significant comeback efforts.
 
Jalen Myers led Norfolk State with a season-best 20 points that included two 3-pointers, while Brian Moore Jr. added 17 points, three rebounds, and three steals.
 
Just like he did two days prior against the unbeaten Stanford Cardinal, Christian Ings found an immediate rhythm on the offensive end of the floor. The Philadelphia native scored seven of the Spartans' first nine points, converting jump shots as well as strong layups at the rim.
 
The Spartans and Lopes stood tied 9-9 early, but Grand Canyon took complete control of the first half from there. The home team produced a 9-0 run with a string of inside scores.
 
Terrance Jones and Moore got to the rim for their respective first points of the night, but GCU had built up a double-digit lead and started to expand its shooting range. Jalen Myers cut into the deficit with a pair of 3-pointers, but a 15-2 run from the Lopes pushed the divide to over 20 points late in the first half.
 
Grand Canyon couldn't miss from deep, hitting 8-of-12 3-point attempts in the first half. Tyon Grant-Foster drained another one from behind the arc as the buzzer sounded, sending the Lopes to the break with a 54-27 lead.
 
The Spartans came out of the gate fired up in the second half, getting to the hoop for efficient possessions. Moore and Ings traded baskets as the Spartans quickly trimmed the gap to 56-37, but a pair of opposing 3-pointers soon after built up Grand Canyon's cushion.
 
Moore scored six consecutive points for the Spartans midway through the second half, as the visiting squad refused to go away, before Tyrel Bladen added another score at the rim. Another basket by Bladen on a second-effort layup pulled the Spartans within 15 at 76-51, the closest the gap would become.
 
As the Spartans continued to chip away, Grand Canyon consistently knocked down deflating 3-pointers at important moments. Lok Wur drained one from deep with four minutes remaining in the game, pushing the Lopes ahead 85-65.
 
Both teams emptied the bench in the final couple of minutes, as Grand Canyon earned its third win of the season on its home floor,
 
 
Checking The Box Score

• Jalen Myers led Norfolk State with 20 points, shooting 7-of-12 from the floor
• Brian Moore Jr. added 17 points, scoring 15 in the second half
• Christian Ings added 17 points
• Grand Canyon led 54-27 at halftime
• The Lopes shot 8-of-12 from behind the arc in the first half, going 14-of-24 (58.3 percent) for the game
• Grand Canyon outrebounded Norfolk State 25-20
• Norfolk State shot 4-of-14 (28.6 percent) on 3-point attempts
• Norfolk State and Grand Canyon each shot 11-of-14 from the free throw line (78.6 percent)

 
News & Notes

• Friday marked the second-ever meeting between the Norfolk State and Grand Canyon men's basketball programs
• Norfolk State dropped to 4-3 with the loss
• Grand Canyon improved to 3-2 with the win
• Grand Canyon now leads the all-time series between the teams 2-0
• Four Spartans scored in double figures against the Lopes – prior to Friday's game, the Spartans were 74-27 under head coach Robert Jones when four players scored in double figures

 
UP NEXT
 
Norfolk State will continue its trip along the West Coast by returning to California. The Spartans battle UC Davis (3-2) at 6 p.m. PT on Monday evening.
 
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