The Grand Canyon University Men's Basketball team had their home opener on Thursday, Nov. 5. Cheerleaders led chants, the dancers wowed the crowd with their abilities, and the team came out ready to put on a show. Naturally, students showed up, ready for a time of school spirited entertainment.

GCU basketball games are not your run-of-the-mill college sporting events. All the aspects of the game are there, but there is one thing in particular that sets these game days apart from the rest.

The Havocs.

Amped, loud, and stoked about the color purple, this group of over the top students comes to games with paint on their faces and a fire in their heart. The mission (and they always choose to accept it) is to bring the house down, put the team on their back, remind the opposing team who's house they're in, and leave the GCU Arena without a voice. Then, they come back and do it all over again next week. It's true dedication; Thursday night's game illustrated just how fierce the Havocs will be during the season.

Tailgating for the night started at 5 p.m., two hours before the game, with face paint, food, and plenty of energy from 1,000 "All Access" Havocs. That's right, the group has its own VIP section. The true fans. The best of the best. These fans came ready for war, and there was a buzz surrounding the entire arena. At 6:15, the group of overly excited students lined up, depending on section, and, like a heard of raging bulls, was allowed access to their seats.

The game hadn't even started yet!

Havocs arrived in the arena, with 30 minutes until game time. The time was filled jumping to the music, dancing to the Thundering Herd pep band, and filling the remaining seats with alumni and other guests. The crowd was ready, the reporters were in place, and all the arena needed was ten players on the court.

It was time. Players arranged themselves for tip off, with an arena full of the most excited fans the state of Arizona has seen.

The New Mexico Highlands basketball team didn't know what they were about to experience.

The Havocs roared, jumped, and wrecked sheer chaos on the New Mexico Highlands Cowboys. The Lopes led the Cowboys 47-31 at halftime. With a lead on the scoreboard, and adrenaline blasting through their veins, the Havocs were ready for the second half.

Bursting out of the locker room, the GCU men's basketball team were ready to finish what they started and the Havocs were more than willing to provide any and all supporting power they had in them. The game wasn't about to be over.

The second half was more amped than the first, with t-shirt time, a dance cam, and Thunder the lope bringing enthusiasm into the crowd's life.

Final score for the game was 84-53 Grand Canyon, finishing the first game of the season with a promising start. The Lope shut the Cowboys down. And the Havocs were right there the entire time. With the force of a monsoon, the Havocs came ready to set expectations for the year ahead of them. Freshmen learned the ropes, and upperclassmen showed the rookies exactly what being a Havoc means. It was a night to remember, and one that showed the world what to expect from the Havocs this year. Basketball season is a big deal at GCU and the Havocs are determined to make this season the biggest, best, and loudest season Grand Canyon University has seen.

Lopes Up!