GCU returns to win column vs. Northwestern State, Jaden Henley scores 22 in 25 minutes

Jaden Henley scored 22 points in 25 minutes as Grand Canyon men's basketball bounced back with a 85-72 win over Northwestern State on Friday.

BY AP

Nov 22, 2025, 7:59 AM

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PHOENIX (AP) — Jaden Henley scored 22 points, 20 of them coming in the second half, to help Grand Canyon defeat Northwestern State 85-72 on Friday.

Henley shot 5 of 11 from the field and went 12 for 13 from the line for the ‘Lopes (3-2) in 25 minutes. Makaih Williams added 12 points and Efe Demirel had 11 points and shot 3 of 3 from the field and 5 for 6 from the line.

Micah Thomas led the Demons (1-5) in scoring, finishing with 24 points and four assists. Northwestern State also got 14 points from Landyn Jumawan. Kordrick Turner scored 10 points.

GCU took the lead for good with 12:51 left in the first half. The score was 41-31 at halftime, with Williams racking up eight points.

The ‘Lopes pulled away with a 10-0 run in the second half to extend a five-point lead to 15. They outscored Northwestern State by three points in the final half.

GCU improved to 3-1 at Global Credit Union Arena in front of an announced crowd of 7,224, rebounding from a 14-point road loss to Saint Louis.

Next up for GCU men’s basketball

Utah (5-1) is up next on the schedule for a late Tuesday night contest against GCU in the Acrisure Classic from Palm Desert, California. The game tips off at 10 p.m. MST and can be seen on CBS Sports Network.

Depending on other game outcomes at the pre-Thanksgiving tournament, GCU will either play Iowa or Ole Miss on Wednesday.