GCU downed by D-I Utah

Friday, November 12

Salt Lake City, UT

7:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Utah

Rony Tchatchoua

11/12/2010 11:06:35 PM | Men's Basketball

'Lopes commit just seven turnovers in loss

By: Steve Heath

Grand Canyon was outscored 20-4 in the final eight minutes of the first half and lost to NCAA Division I University of Utah 72-48 at Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Friday.

GCU (0-1) took an 8-7 lead on a Steven Morin (Scottsdale, Ariz., Saguaro) 3-pointer with 15:56 left in the half and tied it 12-12 when Rony Tchatchoua (Douala, Cameroon, Little Rock Christian, New Hampshire) hit a layup at the 10:16 mark.

Two free throws from senior Gaby Ngoundjo (Douala, Cameroon, Little Rock Christian, Charlotte) cut the Utes lead to 16-14 with 7:57 remaining until halftime, but the home team followed with its game-deciding run.

GCU committed only seven turnovers, but the size of the Utes -- they had two 7-footers play extensive minutes – helped lead to a cold shooting night (29.1 percent).

“That run was the ballgame,” said GCU coach Russ Pennell. “We played even after that.

“We didn’t shoot well, but they had a 7-footer (Jason Washburn) and (7-3 David Foster). Their size bothered us and we didn’t respond during the run.”

Utah had 10 blocked shots and outrebounded GCU 52-26.

A 3-pointer from sophomore guard Brad Carroll (Chandler, Ariz., Corona del Sol, Milwaukee)cut the lead to 14, 38-24, early in the second half, but the Utes answered with the next eight points.

“I really liked how we competed. We didn’t give in,” added Pennell.

Junior guard Nick Witherill (Phoenix, Ariz., Highland, Washington State) led the ‘Lopes with 11 points. Junior forward Justin Wesolowski (Mesa, Ariz., Mountain View, Northern Colorado) had seven points and six rebounds. Tchatchoua added seven points. Carroll and junior guard Kyle Speed (Seattle, Wash., Lake Washington, Johnson County CC) each had six points. Carroll had a team-high three assists.

Pennell said his team will get back into the gym and work on shooting, but he didn’t discount the fact the team’s first three games (including two exhibitions) have all been against top-tier Division I programs.

“We’re keeping in mind the level of competition we’ve played so far,” Pennell said. “We’ve played some teams (UNLV, Utah State, and Utah) that are traditional basketball powers.

“We’re improving ... The main reasons we played these games are to measure ourselves and to challenge ourselves. When we go up against the top D-II teams, we’ll know what it’s like.”

Grand Canyon starts the D-II and home portion of its schedule next week. The ‘Lopes host the GCU Tip-Off Classic Nov. 19-20, taking on Minnesota-Duluth on Nov. 19 and No. 3 St. Cloud State on Nov. 20.

Box Score