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Grand Canyon cleared for D-I play by NCAA

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during the first half of the college basketball game at McKale Center on December 14, 2016 in Tucson, Arizona.

Christian Petersen

PHOENIX (AP) — Grand Canyon has been granted Division I active membership by the NCAA following a four-year transition period.

The school said it was informed by the NCAA on Wednesday and will begin Division I play in the 2017-18 season.

Grand Canyon went 81-46 in four seasons under coach Dan Majerle, the best record among 36 schools that transitioned to Division I since 2000. The Antelopes are one of six teams to have a winning record during its transition in that span.

Grand Canyon played a Division I schedule in the Western Athletic Conference last season, but was not eligible for the NCAA Tournament. The Antelopes are expected to be immediately competitive in the WAC after Majerle, a former Phoenix Suns forward, brought in a strong recruiting class.