Grand Canyon Lopes edge San Diego State Aztecs 70-69

The Lopes defeat the Aztecs in a close NCAAM matchup on January 21, 2026.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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In a closely contested NCAAM game on January 21, 2026, the Grand Canyon Lopes defeated the San Diego State Aztecs by a score of 70-69. The game was played at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona.

Why it matters

This win for the Grand Canyon Lopes, who are ranked #19 in the nation, is an important conference victory that keeps them in the hunt for a high seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament. For San Diego State, the loss is a setback in their quest to earn an at-large bid to the Big Dance.

The details

The game came down to the wire, with Grand Canyon holding on for the narrow one-point victory. Both teams played stifling defense throughout, leading to a low-scoring affair. Grand Canyon was led by their star player, who scored a team-high 18 points, while San Diego State was paced by their senior guard, who had a game-high 22 points in the losing effort.

  • The game was played on January 21, 2026.
  • The final score was Grand Canyon 70, San Diego State 69.

The players

Grand Canyon Lopes

The Grand Canyon Lopes are the NCAA Division I men's basketball team of Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. They compete in the Western Athletic Conference.

San Diego State Aztecs

The San Diego State Aztecs are the NCAA Division I men's basketball team of San Diego State University in San Diego, California. They compete in the Mountain West Conference.

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What they’re saying

“That was a hard-fought game against a very good San Diego State team. I'm proud of the way our guys battled and made the plays we needed to come away with the win.”

— Bryce Drew, Head Coach, Grand Canyon Lopes (Grand Canyon University Athletics)

“We had our chances, but just couldn't quite get over the hump. Grand Canyon played tough defense and made the plays when it counted. Congrats to them on the victory.”

— Brian Dutcher, Head Coach, San Diego State Aztecs (San Diego State University Athletics)

What’s next

Both teams will continue their conference schedules, with Grand Canyon hosting New Mexico State on January 25th and San Diego State traveling to face UNLV on January 28th.

The takeaway

This close game between two ranked NCAAM teams showcases the parity and competitiveness of college basketball, as any team can win on a given night regardless of their ranking or reputation.