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LAS VEGAS — In the first session of the Western Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament, there were no surprises.
Except for maybe how the semifinalists got there.
No. 2 seed Utah Valley picked up an 81-74 win over Cal State Bakersfield while third-seeded Grand Canyon squeaked out a 77-74 win over upstart UMKC.
GCU trailed by double digits in the first half, but made up the difference against Kansas City with a furious rally to set up what is expected to be a semifinal showdown Friday night.
The Wolverines and 'Lopes split the regular-season series, with both teams winning on their home courts. UVU beat GCU 68-56 in Orem on Jan. 27 while GCU returned the favor with a 60-59 win in Phoenix on Feb. 24.
GCU escapes narrow disaster
It wasn't supposed to be like this.
No. 6 seed UMKC jumped out to a 20-4 lead in the first half. The ’Roos shot 44 percent from the field in the first half and hit five 3-pointers. But they cooled off a bit after the quick start.
GCU fought its way back, and it was after head coach Dan Majerle decided to go to his bench that GCU got back in the game.
The combination of WAC freshman of the year Alessandro Lever, Matt Jackson, Damari Wilstead, Roberts Blumbergs and Gerard Martin helped GCU go on a 14-2 run that got the 'Lopes right back in the game.
UMKC took a 42-40 lead into the locker room after a physical first half. The teams combined to commit 26 fouls and shoot 28 free throws.
In the second half, it was more of the same. A lot of physical play, but it came down to free throws and an offensive rebound. Trailing 72-71 with 2:21 to play, GCU guard Casey Benson pulled down an offensive board and was fouled. Benson made both free throws to give the Lopes a 73-72 lead. Lever recorded another offensive rebound off his own miss and put it back to give GCU a 75-72 lead it wouldn't relinquish.
Lever finished with a game-high 29 points while Benson and Oscar Frayer were also in double figures for the Lopes with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Balanced attack helps UVU fend off pesky CSU Bakersfield
Three Wolverines scored in double figures, led by former BYU guard Jake Toolson, who finished with a team-high 19 points to help UVU win the rematch of the four-overtime thriller in the 2017 WAC semifinals that CSU Bakersfield won, 81-80.
Despite shooting just 33 percent in the second half and Damiyne Durham making unbelievable shots, UVU used some timely shooting from Toolson and his cousin Conner Toolson to fend off the upset-minded ’Roos and set up the semifinal showdown.
Zach Nelson, perhaps the oldest player in the WAC, had possibly his best game of the season and provided a spark off the bench for the Wolverines. Nelson finished with nine points and 10 rebounds in 18 minutes.
“You don’t always talk about great human beings in the middle of a tournament. But Zach Nelson has been through so much," UVU coach Mark Pope said.
“Sports help you grow up into extraordinary people. It doesn’t take an extraordinary human being to perform great on the floor, but it does to lift up your teammates and then to have this kind of game in the WAC tournament. I couldn’t be more proud of Zach Nelson.”
Ben Nakwaasah also gave UVU a lift in the first half as he hit three straight from beyond the arc to give UVU a 19-17 lead with just over 12 minutes to play.
UVU had 20 assists on 25 made baskets and out-rebounded the ’Runners, 39-27.
Semifinal showdown for two teams who have never been to the NCAA Tournament
It is the first time that GCU is eligible for the postseason after making the transition to Division I. UVU has never been to the NCAA Tournament despite being an NCAA Division I member since 2003.
Sure, it's just a semifinal, so going to the Big Dance is no guarantee because the winner will most likely face top-seeded and regular-season champion New Mexico State in the WAC championship game. No small task.
But both UVU and GCU have the goal of winning the automatic bid, making Friday night in the Orleans Arena something to pay attention to.
UVU was a free throw away from playing for the WAC championship in 2017. GCU has a chip on its shoulder now that it can play for a tournament berth.
It sets the stage for a thriller and the chance to get one step closer to that goal.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. MST and can be seen on ESPN 3 and ESPN 960 AM radio.
Kyle McDonald is sports fan who loves the Chicago Cubs. Follow him on Twitter at @kylesportsbias.
