Free throws usually come into play late, but it seemed like they were all there was to Thursday’s second quarterfinal of the 2026 Credit Union 1 Mountain West Men’s Basketball Championship.

And it ended up essentially being the difference as No. 5 Nevada came out on top against No. 4 Grand Canyon, 84-80. It was the first time this season GCU had lost a game in which it led at halftime (18-0 prior).

To be down six at half and do something no other team has done to them this year speaks volumes, because we got a lot of respect for who they are and what they’re about,” Nevada coach Steve Alford said. “I thought our guys showed a lot of grit. We scored 50 in the second half, and we did a good job of getting to the free-throw line, and we took advantage of it.”

A total of 86 free throws were taken, which broke an MW tournament record for free throws in a game. The previous record, set in 2016, was a triple-overtime game. It was the first-ever game between two MW teams in which both teams attempted at least 40.

Nevada, which won by four, made 36, while Grand Canyon hit 27. With the game flow ground to a halt in that fashion, only one thing matters.

“Yeah, I would just say just getting up to the line and making them,” Nevada guard Corey Camper Jr. said. “When each guy on this team is knocking down free-throws and it’s going your way, it feels great.”

Vaughn Weems was tied for the most makes in the game with 10, which led his the Wolf Pack. He had a monster start to the second half that included 14 points after scoring just two in the first frame. He got to the line early and often, but also made a couple of tough shots. He contributed defensively, too, with seven rebounds — all on the defensive end.

Camper Jr. led all scorers with 27 points and added six rebounds of his own. His team down at halftime, he contributed a 3 to get out to a 7-0 run to take the lead back. Weems hit some tough buckets and got to the line after that run to help keep the Wolf Pack in it as the lead changed constantly.

But there was no play more impressive and eye-popping than 6-foot-5 Camper Jr.’s driving dunk over two Lopes defenders: 6-6 Dusty Stromer and 7-1 Efe Demirel with the right hand.

“Man, if you looked at me, I’m on the bench screaming, head-tapping, pointing out old boy,” Weems said of Camper Jr.’s highlight. “It was fun. I liked it.”

Nevada moves on to face No. 1 Utah State, which took care of business against No. 8 UNLV earlier on Thursday afternoon.