Hot-shooting 'Lopes beat MSU Billings, 77-57

Saturday, December 18

GCU

6:00 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Montana State-Billings

Kyle Speed

12/18/2010 11:21:38 PM | Men's Basketball

WItherill ties career-high with 22; Tchatchoua sets personal mark with 19

By: Steve Heath

Grand Canyon (4-5) didn’t let up after a hot-shooting first half and defeated Montana State Billings 77-57 in the GCU/Crowne Plaza December Classic at Antelope Gymnasium Saturday.

It was the team’s second straight win. Junior guard Nick Witherill (Phoenix, Ariz., Highland, Washington State) scored 17 of his game-high 22 points in the first half, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range. GCU had seven first-half 3-pointers and shot 53.8 percent (14-of-26) from the field.

Trailing 16-11, GCU responded from a timeout with a 12-0 run and led the remainder of the game.

“The biggest thing that happened was we changed our defense,” said GCU coach Russ Pennell of his timeout adjustments. “We went to our zone and it confused Billings just enough that it gave us a little life and then we started making some shots. When teams zone you it comes down to making open jump shots and tonight we did.”

Witherill’s 22 tied a career high. He had 22 in a win at CSU Dominguez Hills last season. Senior Rony Tchatchoua (Douala, Cameroon, Little Rock Christian, New Hampshire) sparked the ‘Lopes bench play with a career-high 19 points. His previous high was 15 against Washburn earlier this season. He was 6-of-7 from the field and 7-of-7 at the free-throw line to go with a team-high seven rebounds. He also added three steals.

“Even though we started kind of slow, after that first time out coach took, we got ourselves together, started playing defense and started knocking shots down,” said Tchatchoua.

Junior point guard Kyle Speed (Seattle, Wash., Lake Washington, Johnson County CC) topped off a solid weekend with a 17-point, five-assist, four-steal game. In two contests this weekend, he had 38 points and -- in 65 minutes played -- did not have a turnover.

“If you can take care of the basketball at that position you’re going to win a lot of games,” Pennell said of his point guard. “He just has a real knack of when to and when not to. He doesn’t get himself in bad situations on the floor and he values possessions.”

Witherill started the 12-0 run with the third of his six treys. Speed tied the game, 16-16, and the ‘Lopes went up 18-16 on a Justin Wesolowski (Mesa, Ariz., Mountain View, Northern Colorado) lay-in on a nice feed from Braylon Pickrel (Mesa, Ariz., Red Mountain, Mesa CC). Fouled on a 3-point attempt, Tchatchoua hit all three of his freebies to give GCU a 21-16 lead. He added a two-pointer to finish the run.

A 10-0 run later in the half gave GCU a 20-point lead, 43-23. Witherill hit consecutive 3-pointers, Gaby Ngoundjo (Douala, Cameroon, Little Rock Christian, Charlotte) and Pickrel added baskets, too. The lead grew to 29 in the second half.

Grand Canyon will play Southwestern Dec. 30 at 6 p.m. to finish off the remainder of the non-conference season. The conference opener is Jan. 8 at Dixie State.

“You always like winning right before Christmas. It makes the break a little more enjoyable and gives you some momentum as you come back,” said Pennell. “I’ve seen signs of us playing well in games. Tonight it happened for the 40 minutes.”

Box Score