Grand Canyon Antelopes Defeat San Jose State Spartans 94-79 Behind Jaden Henley's 24 Points

The Grand Canyon Antelopes secured a convincing 94-79 win over the San Jose State Spartans, with Jaden Henley leading the charge with 24 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists. Grand Canyon's 55 points in the second half, including 14 points from Makaih Williams, proved too much for San Jose State to handle. The Spartans, led by Colby Garland's 23 points and 7 assists, struggled to keep pace with Grand Canyon's high-powered offense, which shot 51.7% from the field.

The game got off to a competitive start, with Grand Canyon taking a 39-36 lead into halftime. However, the Antelopes pulled away in the second half, outscoring San Jose State 55-43. A key factor in Grand Canyon's success was their ability to distribute the ball effectively, with 22 assists on 35 made field goals. San Jose State, on the other hand, struggled with turnovers, committing 16 giveaways that led to 20 Grand Canyon points. The Spartans' Sadraque NgaNga added 14 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Antelopes' balanced attack, which featured three players scoring 14 or more points.

Jaden Henley and Colby Garland were the standout performers in this matchup, with Henley's 24 points and 8 assists leading the way for Grand Canyon. Garland's 23 points and 7 assists were a bright spot for San Jose State, but the Spartans ultimately came up short. Efe Demirel added 15 points for Grand Canyon, while Makaih Williams chipped in with 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. Pasha Goodarzi contributed 15 points for San Jose State, but the Spartans' lack of depth was exposed by Grand Canyon's relentless pressure.

Grand Canyon's 94 points were the most they've scored in a game since January 21, when they defeated Utah Valley 96-83. The Antelopes' 51.7% field goal percentage was also their highest mark since that game, when they shot 52.5% from the field. San Jose State, on the other hand, struggled to defend the three-point line, allowing Grand Canyon to shoot 42.1% from beyond the arc. The Spartans' 16 turnovers were a major factor in their defeat, as Grand Canyon converted those mistakes into 20 points.

The CHD Scout prediction model correctly forecasted a Grand Canyon win, with a predicted margin of 14.6 points. The actual margin of 15 points was nearly identical, giving the model a passing grade. The predicted score of 65-79 was somewhat low, but the model's overall assessment of the game was accurate. Grand Canyon's high-powered offense and San Jose State's struggles on defense were both correctly identified as key factors in the game.

This win was a Quadrant 4 victory for Grand Canyon, which may not significantly boost their NCAA Tournament resume. However, it does help to pad their win total and maintain their position in the NET rankings, where they currently sit at 76. For San Jose State, this loss was a Quadrant 3 defeat, which won't hurt their resume too badly but won't help it either. The Spartans' NET ranking of 265 makes it unlikely they'll be considered for an at-large bid, but they can still improve their seeding in the Mountain West Conference tournament.

Grand Canyon's next game is scheduled for February 17, when they'll host the New Mexico State Aggies. San Jose State want to bounce back on February 18, when they travel to face the Fresno State Bulldogs. Both teams want to build on their current momentum, with Grand Canyon seeking to extend their winning streak and San Jose State hoping to snap a losing skid.