In a stunning turn of events, Grand Canyon pulled off a monumental upset, edging out San Diego State 70-69 at the Global Credit Union Arena. The Antelopes, ranked 93rd in the net rankings, took down the 47th-ranked Aztecs, defying the pre-game prediction that had San Diego State winning by a slim 1.1-point margin. CHD Scout's forecast proved incorrect, as Grand Canyon's impressive performance led to a one-point victory, sending shockwaves through the college basketball landscape.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to gain a significant advantage. At halftime, San Diego State held a slim 37-35 lead, but Grand Canyon's Jaden Henley and Makaih Williams combined for 34 points to propel their team to the upset win. Henley, in particular, was instrumental in the Antelopes' success, scoring 17 points to lead all Grand Canyon players. His efforts were matched by San Diego State's Elzie Harrington, who also scored 16 points in a valiant effort to lead his team to victory.
The Aztecs' usually stout defense was breached by Grand Canyon's balanced attack, which saw three players score in double figures. Brian Moore Jr. added 12 points for the Antelopes, who shot an impressive 35 points in each half to secure the win. San Diego State, on the other hand, struggled to find consistency, scoring 37 points in the first half but only 32 in the second.
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The implications of this upset are significant, particularly for Grand Canyon's tournament chances. This win marks a Quadrant 2 victory for the Antelopes, a crucial addition to their resume as they look to make a push for the postseason. For San Diego State, the loss is a setback, but it still qualifies as a Quadrant 2 game, which will likely have minimal impact on their overall tournament prospects.
The loss will undoubtedly be a wake-up call for the Aztecs, who had been predicted to win by a narrow margin. Instead, they found themselves on the wrong end of a thrilling upset, one that will surely give Grand Canyon a significant boost in confidence. As the Antelopes look to build on this momentum, they will be eager to prove that this win was not a fluke, but rather a reflection of their growing strength as a team.
In the end, Grand Canyon's upset victory over San Diego State will be remembered as one of the most significant surprises of the season. With their tournament chances now looking more promising, the Antelopes want to ride this wave of momentum into their future games, while the Aztecs will aim to regroup and refocus in the face of this unexpected setback. The win is a major resume booster for Grand Canyon, and they will hope to capitalize on this momentum to make a deep run in the tournament.