Poor Free-Throw Shooting Dooms 'Lopes in Loss to Chaminade

Thursday, January 7

GCU

Grand Canyon

CHAMINADE

Poor Free-Throw Shooting Dooms 'Lopes in Loss to Chaminade

1/7/2010 10:29:28 PM | Men's Basketball

Fourteen for 26.

That's what Grand Canyon University shot from the free-throw line tonight against Chaminade University, and although it may not have cost the Antelopes the game, it certainly was the largest contributing factor to their demise. GCU lost, 71-62, to the Silverswords tonight at Antelope Gymnasium.

The 'Lopes fell to 6-11, 0-1 in the Pacific West Conference, while Chaminade improved to 4-6, 1-0.

GCU was coming off its biggest win of the season, 69-68 over then-No. 6-ranked Seattle Pacific University last Saturday in Phoenix, and judging by tonight's first-half statistics -- 47.8 percent shooting, including 42.9 percent from three-point range -- it had a chance to extend its winning streak to three games (GCU beat Cal State Los Angeles, 47-44, on Dec. 22 in Los Angeles). But 42.3 percent shooting, 9.1 percent from behind the arc, in the second half wasn't going to get the job done.

And then there was the free-throw shooting. The 'Lopes made just 11 of 21 from the charity stripe after halftime.

Another huge factor tonight was one of the two smallest players on the court. Guard Steven Bennett, all 5-foot-6 of him (Chaminade has another player on its roster who is the same height), came off the bench to score 30 points. He made 9 of 18 field goals and 10 of 12 free throws, and added three assists to tie for the team lead in that category. And -- get this -- he also had a blocked shot that he converted into a layup at the other end.

Three GCU players scored in double figures: sophomore forward Justin Wesolowski (pictured, Mesa, AZ/Mountain View), 14; freshman guard Brad Carroll (Chandler, AZ/Corona del Sol), 12; and junior forward Gaby Ngoundjo (Little Rock, AR/Christian), 10. Each team had 31 rebounds and the 'Lopes had just 10 turnovers, one more than the Silverswords.

The 'Lopes host BYU-Hawaii (6-3), the preseason No. 1-ranked team in the country, at 7 p.m. on Saturday. The Seasiders began Pacific West Conference play at Dixie State College tonight in St. George, Utah. They lost their non-conference finale at home to Division III Chapman (CA) University, 76-70 in overtime. Last season's PacWest champions already have lost more games this year than they did in the entire 2008-09 season. They dropped from No. 18 to out of the latest NABC Division II Coaches Poll after the loss to Chapman on Jan. 2.

BYU-Hawaii returns last season's Division II Player of the Year, Lucas Alves. The 6-9, 230-pound senior forward/center from Brazil missed eight games due to a knee injury before starting in the Chapman game. Leading scorer Tsung-Hsien "Jet" Chang, a 6-4 sophomore guard, may have missed tonight's game at Dixie State due to an injury he sustained against Hawaii Pacific on Dec. 11.

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