Poor Play in Second Half Dooms GCU in Loss to St. Martin's

Friday, November 27

Bellingham, WA

Grand Canyon

St. Martin's

Poor Play in Second Half Dooms GCU in Loss to St. Martin's

11/27/2009 7:00:55 PM | Men's Basketball

The second-half box score told the whole story: Grand Canyon University was outscored, 46-29, shot just 36 percent from the field, had only nine free-throw attempts to its opponent's 21 and committed 12 turnovers. As a result, the Antelopes lost to the Saints, 81-67, tonight in their first game of the WWU Chuck Randall Thanksgiving Classic on the campus of Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash.

They play the host Vikings at 8 p.m. Arizona time tomorrow.

GCU led, 38-35, at halftime despite allowing St. Martin's to go on an 11-0 run to tie the score, 32-32, late in the first half. The 'Lopes' largest lead was nine points, 30-21. Senior guard T.J. Benson Tempe, AZ/Corona del Sol) and sophomore guard Nick Witherill (pictured, Phoenix, AZ/Highland) knocked down consecutive three-pointers just before halftime to give their team the lead.

But St. Martin's went on an 18-3 run to start the second half and led, 53-41, with 13:11 remaining. GCU closed the gap to five points with 12:04 left and again with 7:02 remaining, but that was as close as it got as its season record fell to 2-6. St. Martin's now is 4-0.

Three Saints players scored in double figures, led by forward Blake Poole with 29 points and forward Jared Howard with 22. Three 'Lopes also had 10 or more points, inluding Witherill with 15 and Benson with 13.

GCU was outrebounded, 32-28, in the game, and had 19 total turnovers.

St. Martin's shot 56 percent (29-52) for the game, including 42 percent (5-12) on three-pointers. It also made 78 percent (18-23) of its free throws.

The 'Lopes had only 14 total free-throw attempts and made nine of them (64 percent).

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