Nevada Stuns Grand Canyon In Overtime Thriller At Lawlor

The Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nevada, was abuzz on Tuesday night as the Nevada Wolf Pack and Grand Canyon Antelopes delivered a dramatic showdown in their first-ever conference meeting—a clash that had all the makings of a college basketball classic. With a sold-out student section and 8,728 fans roaring in the stands, the stakes felt even higher for two programs eager to make a statement in the Mountain West Conference.

Coming into the game, both teams boasted impressive records. Nevada, at 14-6 overall and 6-3 in conference play, had made its home court a fortress, going 9-2 in Reno prior to this matchup. Grand Canyon, just a step behind at 13-6 and 6-2 in conference, had shown it could handle the pressure of big road games. But both squads entered the night with something to prove—and, as the final score would show, neither was willing to give an inch easily.

Defense was the calling card for both teams. Nevada came in allowing just 65.4 points per game, good for 25th nationally, while Grand Canyon wasn’t far behind at 65.9 (31st nationally). The Wolf Pack paired that stingy defense with a steadier scoring profile, averaging 76.5 points per game compared to the Lopes’ 74.1. The rim was expected to be a no-fly zone, with Nevada holding opponents to 45.3% on two-point shots and Grand Canyon at 46.9%. Both teams liked to shoot from deep—Grand Canyon launching 25.2 threes per game and Nevada 24.6—but easy buckets were always going to be hard to come by.

The game started with Nevada’s Corey Camper Jr. opening the scoring, but Grand Canyon quickly answered with a 6-0 run and then a 10-0 surge, seizing early control. The Wolf Pack offense sputtered out of the gate, enduring a nearly five-minute drought before Peyton White drained a three to cut the deficit. Chuck Bailey III, a junior guard coming off the bench, provided a spark with a three-pointer and a fast-break score, helping Nevada claw back into the contest. The teams traded runs, but it was Bailey’s jumper that gave Nevada a 26-24 lead at halftime, capping an 8-0 run and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

Grand Canyon’s early success came despite missing two key starters: Brian Moore Jr. and Caleb Shaw, both sidelined with injuries. The Lopes leaned heavily on their starters, who played a staggering 207 of the game’s 225 minutes. Freshman center Efe Demirel rose to the occasion, notching his first career double-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks, and a steal in 37 minutes of action. Jaden Henley, the Lopes’ senior guard, recorded his second consecutive double-double, finishing with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and two steals. Makaih Williams added 13 points and was a steady hand in the backcourt.

The second half saw momentum swing again. Grand Canyon opened with a 6-0 run while Nevada went more than four minutes without a basket. Elijah Price, Nevada’s defensive anchor, picked up his third foul early and eventually fouled out after just 24 minutes, making minimal impact. The Lopes capitalized, building a nine-point lead with less than five minutes to play and a six-point cushion with under two minutes left in regulation. It looked like Grand Canyon might steal a crucial road win—until the nerves kicked in at the free-throw line.

In the final two minutes of regulation, Grand Canyon missed four of five free throws and committed a costly turnover. With just 0.8 seconds left and the Lopes clinging to a three-point lead, Nevada inbounded the ball to Tyler Rolison, who was fouled on a last-second three-point attempt. Rolison, a 21% shooter from deep, showed ice in his veins, sinking all three free throws to tie the game at 53 and force overtime. "To make three free throws there, that’s the absolute hardest time to make three free throws," Nevada head coach Steve Alford remarked, marveling at Rolison’s composure under pressure.

Overtime belonged to Nevada. The Wolf Pack outscored the Lopes 13-7 in the extra period, fueled by a pair of clutch three-pointers from Bailey and steady execution at the charity stripe (going 7-of-10 in OT). Bailey finished the night with 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arc. Rolison added 11 points, five rebounds, and three steals, with six of his points coming in overtime. Peyton White, a freshman power forward, was a game-high plus-27 in 29 reserve minutes, further highlighting Nevada’s incredible bench depth.

That depth proved decisive. While Grand Canyon’s bench mustered just two points, Nevada’s reserves exploded for 41. The Wolf Pack’s ability to get contributions from unexpected sources—Bailey’s 18 points and White’s all-around impact—offset off nights from stars like Camper Jr. (who went just 3-for-13 from the field) and Price (limited by foul trouble).

Grand Canyon, meanwhile, was left to rue missed opportunities. "The guys really fought. We played guys too many minutes. We had no choice. I thought the guys played great the last 10 minutes. We were in position to win the game," Lopes head coach Bryce Drew said after the game. The Lopes’ inability to close it out at the line and a late foul on a three-point shooter ultimately sealed their fate.

Statistically, the game was as tight as expected. Nevada finished 7-of-17 from three and 17-of-26 from the free-throw line, while Grand Canyon shot 4-of-23 from deep and a perfect 6-of-6 from the stripe in the first half before faltering late. The Antelopes dominated in the paint, outscoring Nevada 30-18, but turnovers and missed free throws proved costly.

With the win, Nevada improved to 15-6 overall and 7-3 in the Mountain West, bolstering its tournament credentials and maintaining its stronghold at home (now 10-2 in Reno). Grand Canyon dropped to 13-7 and 6-3 in conference, but showed resilience despite being shorthanded. Both teams now look ahead to Friday, January 30th—Nevada hosting in-state rival UNLV, and Grand Canyon returning to Phoenix for a clash with Boise State.

As the dust settles, one thing’s clear: this new conference rivalry has all the ingredients for memorable battles ahead. For now, the Wolf Pack can savor a gritty, come-from-behind victory that showcased their depth, resolve, and the electric atmosphere that college basketball fans live for.