By SAM LANCE
It’s hard to find a better story in college basketball right now than Tyon Grant-Foster and Grand Canyon.
The Antelopes (7-1) now have their first ranked win in program history with a 79-73 victory over No. 25 San Diego State at home on Tuesday night.
Grant-Foster — the 6-foot-7, 210-pound guard from Kansas City (KS) — collapsed in the locker room in November 2021 while at DePaul, and it was uncertain if he’d ever play basketball again. The senior guard, however, made a remarkable recovery and was cleared to play in March 2023.
Grant-Foster’s near-death experience makes what he’s been able to do this season for Grand Canyon even more remarkable. Grant-Foster came into the San Diego State game ranked ninth in the nation in scoring (22.4 points per game). He had 17 points, five rebounds and five assists to help propel the Antelopes over the Aztecs.
Grand Canyon had three other players in double figures in addition to Grant-Foster, including junior guard Ray Harrison (23 points), senior forward Gabe McGlothan (15 points) and junior guard Collin Moore (15 points). The Antelopes out-rebounded the Aztecs 40-32 and shot 23-of-31 from the free throw line.
Grand Canyon now has a quality, 76-72, win over San Francisco as well as this ranked win against San Diego State. Their only loss came by seven points at the hands of South Carolina.
The Antelopes won the Western Athletic Conference tournament last season and then fell to No. 3-seeded Gonzaga, 82-70, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Grand Canyon is expected to get back to the tournament this year, as it was picked to win the WAC again in the preseason conference poll.
It would be an incredible story if the Antelopes got back to the NCAA Tournament led by Grant-Foster.
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