GCU Hangs Tight With Western Washington, But Loses at End

Saturday, November 28

Bellingham, WA

Grand Canyon

West. Washington

GCU Hangs Tight With Western Washington, But Loses at End

11/28/2009 11:55:55 PM | Men's Basketball

This was one of the Antelopes' best games of the season.

Grand Canyon University was tied with Western Washington University, a team that it lost to by 24 points in its season opener on Oct. 30, at halftime and was down by just four with a little over 10 minutes left. But the Vikings went on an 8-0 run over the next three minutes, pushing the margin to 12, and the 'Lopes never got closer than nine points after that as they lost, 70-55, tonight in their second game at the 11th WWU Chuck Randall Thanksgiving Men's Basketball Classic held on Haggen Court at Sam Carver Gymnasium in Bellingham, Wash.

GCU fell to 2-7, while WWU improved to 7-1 and extended its winning streak to six games.

The 'Lopes were led by the 14 points of freshman guard Brad Carroll (pictured, Chandler, AZ/Corona del Sol). Senior guard T.J. Benson (Tempe, AZ/Corona del Sol) added 12 points and sophomore forward Justin Wesolowski (Mesa, AZ/Mountain View) had 11. Benson, who scored 13 [points and dished out eight assists in GCU's 81-67 loss to Saint Martin's last night, was named to the all-tournament team.

Forward Derrick Webb had 19 points and 11 rebounds and forward/center Zach Bruce added 19 points and eight rebounds for the Vikings. They combined for 13 of their team's first 15 second-half points.

The Vikings shot 56.5 percent (13-of-23) from the field in the second half after hitting just 37.5 percent (9-of-24) in the opening period. Western had a 40-19 advantage in rebounds. The Vikings made 25-of-31 free throws (80.6 percent), with Webb converting 9-of-10.

GCU had just seven turnovers in the game.

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