GCU Men's Club Basketball's went 3-1 over the weekend at the Arizona State University Sparky Shootout, ultimately beating the home-team Sun Devils, 56-45, in the championship game to claim the tournament title.
GCU's tournament got started with a game against California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, in which the Lopes scored 80 points. Lopes' freshman forward
Kaden Manna led the charge offensively [15 points, 8 rebounds], while freshman guard
Seth Adams finished a perfect 4/4 from behind the three-point line.
The Lopes' next game, against ASU Club, was highlighted by GCU junior guard
David Black's near double-double [17 points, 9 assists], but the Lopes fell short, 68-60.
In the semi-final game GCU was met with some familiar faces in the GCU 2 squad. Manna and Lopes' forward
Uriah Stokes each scored 12 points as Team 1 held on for a 55-42 victory.
In the ensuing championship game, a rematch with ASU, GCU's defense shined. The Lopes got out to a 20-3 lead to open up the game and never looked back.
David Black again acted as the offensive engine, scoring 11 points and dishing out 12 assists, while also grabbing 4 steals to get GCU going in transition.
Next up, the Lopes start preparing for National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association National Championships. After nearly winning the 2022 NIRSA National title, the team is set to try again in Madison, Wisconsin on April 12-14.
