Here's how Grand Canyon can advance against Alabama in NCAA Tournament

SPOKANE, Wash. ― The pressure is off. Grand Canyon has its breakthrough March Madness win.

The Lopes have the crowd inside Spokane Arena, including a mighty group of Havocs, behind them.

There is nothing to lose and everything to gain Sunday when 12th-seeded GCU (30-4) takes on No. 4-seed Alabama at 4:10 p.m., in an NCAA second-round West Region game with a chance to get to Los Angeles for the Sweet 16. The game will be televised on TBS.

When Bama quickly dismantled Charleston, scoring 109 points in the first-round Friday, the Tide looked unbeatable with guard Mark Sears scoring 20 of his 30 points in the first half.

But GCU might have some answers for Alabama (22-11) and its enormous talent.

Here's how the Lopes can pull off another upset:

GCU vs Alabama picks, predictions:Who wins March Madness NCAA Tournament game?

Don't let Mark Sears go off

GCU had trouble against smaller, quick, dynamic guards during WAC play when those guys were on top of their games. Sears is maybe the most dynamic of any guard the Lopes have seen. He not only can hit 3-pointers, but he is so good off the dribble, finding seams and getting to the basket.

He's similar to GCU 6-foot-7 guard Tyron Grant-Foster, with the knack to find a lane to get into the lane and either get fouled or score. So GCU's Ray Harrison and Collin Moore will have to figure out a way to get Sears off of his game. They can't let him loose around the arc or he'll knock down 3s. They can't let him get around them. And, if there's help, Gabe McGlothan and Grant-Foster are there to assert themselves.

Don't let Tide roll in transition

GCU had nine blocked shots and eight steals in the 75-66 first-round win against No. 5 Saint Mary's. The Gaels' style is the complete opposite of Alabama's run and gun.

Not only with Sears, but 6-foot-3 guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr., is another exceptional 3-point shooter who can slash to the basket with his muscular, compact frame.

The way GCU has adjusted to myriad offensive styles might help the Lopes adjust on the fly. GCU has the length and athleticism to make it harder for the Tide to just score at will. McGlothan, Grant-Foster, Moore and 6-foot-9 reserve Lok Wur are good at recovering defensively to protect the rim.

More:How Tyon Grant-Foster's long road back to the court from medical scare took him to GCU

"I think they did a really good job pressuring the ball and making it tough for us to catch it where we wanted and get into our actions," Saint Mary's 6-10 center Mitchell Saxen said. "I thought we lost composure a little bit there and could have done a better job just executing our stuff like we normally do."

GCU won't back away from a fast-tempo game. The Lopes love to run, too, with Grant-Foster in constant attack mode, and the ability to pull up and cash in with 3s. So is Wur, who blossomed in the second half of the season to give the Lopes a chance against the most athletic teams in the country.

"The coaches told us to go out there and be athletic," McGlothan said. "They trust us. So being able to go and play basketball, it's a beautiful thing."

Grant-Foster's continued inspired play

The deeper GCU goes in the tournament, the more reporters are going to ask Grant-Foster about his remarkable comeback story after nearly dying, undergoing two heart surgeries and not knowing if he'd be able to play again two years ago.

Two years later, he's led the Lopes in scoring with 20 points a game. And he's been at a different level for the last month, much more efficient shooting the ball, taking over games. He'll have to take over this game for the Lopes to continue their historic season.

GCU finding Grant-Foster in the portal and having faith in him after not playing for two years was pure gold.

Coach Bryce Drew let his returners, Harrison, McGlothan and guard Jovan Blacksher Jr., make their own sales pitches to get him to sign with the Lopes.

"I feel like the only pitch we gave him was I asked him if he wanted a ring," Harrison said.

Grant-Foster said GCU's winning culture being built by Drew brought him to Phoenix. This is the Lopes' third trip to the NCAA Tournament in four years with Drew leading the program, and their second in a row.

"Just getting to know Tyon, and knowing that regardless of what's on the court, I know I have a brother for life," McGlothan said. "We were going to start building that. That was one of my favorite things. And trusting in that, look where it got us."

How it started:Grand Canyon's Havocs turn up the heat on foes

GCU Havocs provide elite advantage

It might be the loudest, and best-choreographed student section in college basketball. They call themselves the Havocs, and they brought it Friday, giving the Lopes a crowd advantage, especially with so many in Gonzaga country rooting against WCC-rival SMC.

The Havocs filled an entire section in the lower bowl that was across the floor from the Lopes' bench. They were as loud as any home game at Global Credit Union Arena. And they'll be just as loud for Sunday's game against Alabama.

Havocs President Luke Stoffel, a senior at GCU, said they brought about 230 Havocs to Spokane, getting in Friday morning. It was slightly more than the number of Havocs in Denver last year in the first-round against Gonzaga.

"We got blessed with some good transportation options this year," Stoffel said.

He said more than 300 people signed up. They couldn't bring that many. But those who came were as rowdy as any crowd in their home arena.

"The (Spokane) arena is not huge so we could project our voice and the students we brought were some of our craziest Havocs," Stoffel said. "We loved the Gonzaga fans there, because they were cheering for us just as much as we were."

"I feel it's being here at GCU and having the Havocs backing us," Harrison said after Friday's game. "It's like having an extra teammate out there at all times. We're always thankful for it. It makes us feel more comfortable. We're able to play our game better."

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