Grand Canyon basketball drops UT-Rio Grande Valley

PHOENIX — Joshua Braun scored 20 points and Grand Canyon handled Texas-Rio Grande Valley 83-63 in the Western Athletic Conference opener for both teams on Thursday.

Braun was 7 of 13 from the floor, with six 3-pointers. The Antelopes (14-2) made 10 of 25 from beyond the arc. Grandy Glaze scored 17 points with 12 rebounds, and Dominic Magee added 14 points. Grand Canyon dominated the boards, 45-27.

UT-Rio Grande Valley (4-12) was led by Dakota Slaughter with 15 points, while Shaquille Hines and Dan Kimasa both added 14.

Grand Canyon made an 11-point run early — including a pair of 3s by Braun — and led 45-28 at the break. Braun’s 3-pointer with 8:19 left made it 69-51, and the lead reached 20 with 6:34 to go on a Magee 3-pointer.

Rio Grande Valley didn’t make a basket over the final 3:24.