GCU Wins Home Opener

Tuesday, November 24

GCU

Grand Canyon

CAL BAPTIST

11/24/2009 10:09:37 PM | Men's Basketball

The game may not have been pretty, but the final result sure was.

Grand Canyon University defeated Cal Baptist University, 53-48, in its regular-season home opener tonight at Antelope Gymnasium.

Sophomore guard Nick Witherill (Phoenix, AZ/Highland) led the Antelopes with 13 points, including a key three-pointer with 1:13 left that gave the Antelopes a 49-48 lead. Freshman guard Brad Carroll (pictured, Chandler, AZ/Corona del Sol) knocked down two free throws with 44 seconds remaining, and Witherill put the game in the deep freezer by nailing two more free throws with nine seconds left.

GCU improved to 2-5, while Cal Baptist fell to 5-2.

The 'Lopes led, 31-23, at halftime despite not going to the free-throw line once. They made 13-of-30 field goals (43 percent), including 5-of-12 three-pointers, and outrebounded the Lancers 18-11. They shot even worse in the second half, 5-for-15 (33 percent), but made a 12-0 run in the final 4:34.

Junior forward Gaby Ngoundjo (Little Rock, AR/Christian) was 0-for-4 on field goals in the game, but he had two blocked shots and calmly hit two free throws at 2:05 to bring GCU to within two points.

Guard Larry Dew led Cal Baptist in scoring with 10 points.

The 'Lopes hit the road again on Thursday, traveling to Bellingham, Wash., where they will play St. Martin's at 4 p.m. Arizona time on Friday and Western Washington at 8 p.m. Arizona time on Saturday in the 11th Chuck Randall Thanksgiving Men's Basketball Classic.

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