GCU loses to Washburn, 86-81

Friday, November 26

GCU

7:15 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Washburn

Chris Johnson

11/26/2010 9:33:31 PM | Men's Basketball

Five score in double figures

By: Steve Heath

Grand Canyon fought an uphill battle most of the night and couldn’t quite get over the hump in an 86-81 loss to Washburn in its first game of the GCU/Crowne Plaza Thanksgiving Classic at Antelope Gymnasium Friday.

GCU had five players score in double figures and shot 56.8 percent from the field in the loss. The Antelopes (2-2) will play Seattle Pacific at 7:15 p.m. Saturday.

“We came out kind of slow and we knew we had to pick it up in the second half,” said senior Rony Tchatchoua, who led GCU with 15 points, three steals and two blocked shots. “Our margin of error was real thin, though we got it down to two points, we had some lapses on defenses and they came back and hit some big shots.”

Grand Canyon trailed by nine at halftime, 40-31, and 12 early in the second half.

When freshman Chris Johnson went strong to the hoop for a lay-in, the Antelopes cut the margin to 74-72 with 2:52 to go. Washburn answered with a three-point play and stretched its lead to eight, 81-73, with only one minute to play.

TwoBrad Carroll free throws and another strong drive to the basket from Justin Wesolowski cut it to 81-77, but the ‘Lopes ran out of time.

“We cut it down close, we just couldn’t get over the hump,” said Wesolowski. “We felt like every time we got there, they’d hit a big shot. We kept fighting, that’s the most important thing, and we didn’t lay down for them.”

Johnson finished with 13 points. Wesolowski had 11. Carroll and junior guard Nick Witherill each had 10. Carroll was the top rebounder with five. Fletcher Wynn dished out five assists. Junior point guard Kyle Speed added nine points and three assists.

“Washburn’s a really good basketball team and we knew that coming in,” said GCU coach Russ Pennell. “The thing that disappointed me is; I didn’t think our defense was as crisp as it had been. We had little breakdowns that kept us from getting over the hump. We shot the ball well and they did, too. Credit Washburn, they played a great game.”

Washburn shot 65.3 percent from the field and were led by Logan Stutz, who scored 38 points.

Box Score