Phoenix, Ariz. – Grand Canyon University (7-2) led 40-29 at halftime and 52-36 with 13:49 left in the game and held off three Arizona Christian University comeback efforts in an 83-68 non- conference men's basketball victory over ACU (2-12), Friday, Dec. 30, in GCU Arena. Both teams made 23 field goals in the game, but GCU enjoyed a wide 33-17 free throw advantage and attempted 40 charity tosses while ACU tried 25. 

ACU hosts La Sierra University (1-14) in an Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) and Pacific Christian Athletics Conference (PCAC) contest, Tuesday, Jan. 3, at 7 p.m., in Fultz Memorial Gym, for its only game next week. 

The Firestorm mounted its first comeback in the first half after falling behind, 23-12, with 10 minutes left before intermission. In his first action of the season after becoming eligible, freshman forward Bryant Avent (Phoenix, Ariz./Valley Christian H.S.) drained a pair of three- pointers in a span of 27 seconds and senior guard Houston Friend (Phoenix, Ariz./Scottsdale Christian Academy) hit a three-pointer during a 14-4 run that sliced the Antelopes' lead to 27-25 with 6:15 left. However GCU outscored ACU, 13-2, over the next 5:26 and rebuilt its lead to 13 points, 40-27, with 49 seconds left after a steal and three-point play completed by freshman guard Justin Foreman. With its reserves outscoring ACU's substitutes, 22-6, GCU led 40-29 at 

the break. 

The Antelopes grabbed its biggest lead of the game, 52-36, with 13:49 left in the game, shortly before ACU's second rally sliced the advantage to 59-53, with 7:42 remaining. ACU's reserves, which outscored GCU's substitutes in the second half, 22-17, played key roles. Freshman reserve guard Judah St. Amand (Phoenix, Ariz./Scottsdale Christian Academy scored five points with one three-pointer, and junior reserve guard Jordan Augustine (West Jordan, 

Utah/Waterford H.S.) recorded two steals which directly led to six points, including his own three-point play with 11:54 left. 

GCU regained a 64-53 advantage with 6:08 left to play, and ACU came back again and trailed 68-62 with 3:12 left. Sophomore reserve forward Ruben Rivas (Phoenix, Ariz./Verrado H.S.) posted a offensive rebound basket and two free throws and a steal during the comeback, and Friend's hoop put ACU back into the contest. Sophomore guard Albert Suniga (Phoenix, Ariz./Tolleson Union H.S.), ACU's leading scorer (16.1 ppg) who came off the bench due to an ankle injury suffered in a Dec. 29 practice, scored ACU's final two points with 52 seconds left, and GCU scored the final eight points of the game and won by 15 points. 

Junior guard A.J. Koch (Tucson, Ariz./Flowing Well H.S.) led ACU with 15 points and added seven rebounds and one steal. Friend totaled 10 points with 2 three-pointers, five rebounds and three assists, and Augustine added nine points on four of five shots, two assists and one steal. Avent finished his collegiate debut with eight points, 2 three-pointers, eight rebounds, one blocked shot and one steal, and Suniga contributed seven points, five of six free throws and three assists. Freshman starting forward Jared Culbert (Henderson, Nev./Coronado H.S.) added five points, four rebounds and one steal before fouling out with 6:08 left in the game. St. Amand totaled five points, and Rivas finished with four. 

Freshman guard Jerome Garrison led all scorers in the game with 21 points, 13 in the first half, off the GCU bench, hitting seven of nine shots and all six of his free throws, and also gathered four rebounds, passed off four assists and stole the ball from ACU twice. Senior guard Kyle Speed made 11 of his 12 free throw and totaled 16 points, one three-pointer and three assists, and Foreman added 11 points, two rebounds and two steals. GCU's center Braylon Pickrel contributed nine points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots, and starting guard Nick Witherill finished with eight points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal.