GCU Earns No. 13 Seed, faces Maryland in NCAA Tournament

Lopes return to March Madness, set for first-round matchup in Seattle

LAS VEGAS, (KYMA, KECY) - Grand Canyon University is headed back to the NCAA Tournament, earning a No. 13 seed in the West Region.

The Lopes will take on No. 4 seed Maryland on Friday at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, with tipoff set for 1:35 p.m. on TBS.

GCU (26-7) secured its third straight Western Athletic Conference title, while Maryland (25-8) enters the tournament as one of the nation’s top defensive teams. The Terrapins feature standout freshman Derik Queen and junior Ja'Kobi Gillespie, who lead a high-scoring lineup.

Lopes head coach Bryce Drew acknowledged the challenge ahead but sees an opportunity. “Whoever we play, we know they're going to be really good,” Drew said. “Maryland statistically is even better than what their seed says. They have a lottery pick, one of the best point guards in the country, and a lot of really good pieces.”

Making their fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in five years, the Lopes will look to build on last year’s run, when they earned their first tournament win against Saint Mary’s before falling to Alabama. Four starters return from that squad, bringing valuable experience into Friday’s matchup.

If GCU advances, it will face the winner of No. 5 seed Memphis and No. 12 seed Colorado State on Sunday.