JaKobe Coles’ 1st college double-double propels short-handed Grand Canyon in hoops opener

JaKobe Coles’ 107th career college basketball game brought his first double-double as he led his Grand Canyon team to victory in his debut with the school.

With two starters missing, the TCU transfer’s career highs of 26 points and 13 rebounds were crucial in a season-opening 89-79 win over Cal State Fullerton on Monday night before 7,053 fans at Global Credit Union Arena.

GCU knew it would be without reigning WAC Player of the Year Tyon Grant-Foster for the first two games. But when center Duke Brennan suffered a shoulder injury in practice last week that prevented him from playing, the Lopes had to make it work with moving pieces. And with veteran guards Ray Harrison and Collin Moore stabilizing factors.

Transfer guard Makaih Williams, the WAC Freshman of the Year at UT Arlington last year, moved into the starting lineup. Wing Lok Wur moved in the post, along with Coles at times.

Coach Bryce Drew, entering his fifth season leading the Lopes, used three true freshmen, with 7-foot-1 transfer Dennis Evans, who came in from Louisville, also not playing. Drew said Evans is expected to make his GCU debut next week against Western Kentucky.

“Just really proud of the effort,” Drew said. “Especially the rebounding. We were undersized, and I thought we did a good job attacking the ball.”

After the Eastern New Mexico exhibition, the Lopes felt they needed to improve their efforts on the glass. They did that by outrebounding the Titans 36-25.

GCU’s JaKobe Coles (21) celebrates a basket during a basketball game against Cal State Fullerton on Nov. 4, 2024, at Global Credit Union Arena in Phoenix.

The Lopes struck gold by obtaining Coles in the portal out of TCU, where he was part of three straight NCAA Tournament at-large teams.

The question entering the season was how GCU would replace power forward Gabe McGlothan, the emotional and rebounding leader of the Lopes’ historic 30-5 season last year that saw them win their first NCAA Tournament game.

Enter Coles, who opens the court with…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/jakobe-coles-1st-college-double-142248900.html

Author : AZCentral | The Arizona Republic

Publish date : 2024-11-05 14:22:00

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