Antelopes Win! Antelopes Win!

Tuesday, November 17

Carson, CA

Grand Canyon

CSU Dominguez Hills

11/18/2009 12:21:21 AM | Men's Basketball

Nick Witherill said he hasn't had a game of this magnitude since his junior year of high school. Russ Pennell said it feels really good, especially winning on the road against a quality opponent. One of his assistant coaches said was a mixture of excitement and relief.

The Grand Canyon University Antelopes, who entered the 2009-10 season amid hype heretofore not experienced at GCU based upon Pennell's accomplishments and the seven Division I transfers he recruited, won their first game of the season tonight in Carson, Calif. Their 67-57 defeat of Cal State Dominguez Hills in front of a crowd of 427 was historical in that it was the first victory in the Russ Pennell Era at GCU, and it came after the 'Lopes started the season 0-3 with losses to Western Washington, San Francisco State and Kentucky Wesleyan -- two of which, Western Washington and Kentucky Wesleyan, won their conference championships last season -- at Disney's Division II Tip-Off West Coast Classic in Anaheim, Calif. Oct. 30-Nov. 1.

Cal State Dominguez Hills also captured its conference title last season.

"That'll be nice for all of us," the head coach said. "We'll remember coming over to Dominguez Hills and getting the job done.

"I think it's just a real sign of how we've grown in the last two weeks, and to me that's what really excites me. And, of course, capping it off with a win is the icing on the cake. I liked our heart and our effort tonight."

Sophomore guard Witherill (pictured, Phoenix, AZ/Highland) had a nearly perfect game. He made 8 of 9 field goals, including 6 of 6 three-pointers, and finished with 22 points. He also made a key play in the second half, with the 'Lopes leading 47-39, when he took a charge on a 2-on-1 break. It swung the momentum back on GCU's side, and the Weber State Connection -- guard T.J. Benson (Tempe, AZ/Corona del Sol) and forward Marco Ramos (Salinas, CA/North) -- made sure it stayed that way. The two seniors, who played together at Weber State before transferring to GCU, turned an eight-point lead into a 17-point one, effectively putting the game out of reach for the Toros. Benson made a three-pointer to make it 50-39 and then had a steal. Ramos knocked down another three-pointer to make the score 53-39, and then Benson canned another trey to make it 56-39.

Cal State Dominguez Hills made a basket, and then Witherill drilled his sixth three-pointer of the night to bring the lead back up to 17.

"Last week he told me how comfortable he felt coming off the bench," Pennell said of Witherill. "He just liked that role. And I told him his role was to come off the bench and to score, and I wanted him to look for his shot more.

"I've had a long history with Nick and know what he can do, and I thought tonight there was no hesitation in his game. When he was open, he shot it. If they were up on him, he one-bounced and pulled up. I just thought he had a tremendous feel for the game tonight."

Witherill, who started the 'Lopes' first two games, said, "It feels good. The first four games (counting an exhibition game against Southwestern College on Nov. 7) I didn't have my stroke there."

He added that he likes his new role coming off the bench because "there's not as much pressure and I can just do what I need to do."

GCU shot 51 percent (21-of-41) for the game, including 50 percent (12-of-24) from behind the three-point arc.

Benson and Ramos, the only GCU player from California, had 10 points apiece.

The 'Lopes now head to Durango, Colo., where they will play New Mexico Highlands at 4 p.m. Arizona time on Friday and host Fort Lewis at 7:30 p.m. Arizona on Saturday. Both games can be heard over the B2 Network with play-by-play man Michael Potter. Just click on the B2 button in the upper-right corner of the GCU Athletics home page (athletics.gcu.edu).

New Mexico Highlands is expected to contend for its league championship and Fort Lewis is projected to finish near the top of its conference as well. Fort Lewis, in fact, beat Northern Arizona by 10 points in an exhibition game in Flagstaff on Nov. 6.

"There's no rest for us right now," Pennell said. "Our schedule is really tough this year, but I look forward to the challenge. And certainly a win like tonight should boost our confidence as we go in there."

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