Completed Event: Men's Basketball at UNLV on February 7, 2026 , Loss , 78, to, 80
M Basketball
at UNLV
L 78-80
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Friday, November 11
Las Vegas, NV
8 p.m.
Grand Canyon
at
UNLV
Foreman returns to Vegas tonight.
Canyon Set to Open Season in Vegas
11/11/2011 9:54:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Grand Canyon University men's basketball team will officially open the 2011-12 season this evening when they face UNLV at 8 p.m. (Arizona time) at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev.
GAME NOTES
STIFF COMPETITION: GCU is opening the 2011-12 season with three of their first four games coming against D-I opponents. GCU opened their exhibition season in Eugene against the Oregon Ducks on Nov. 2 and played at home against Arizona State on Nov.5. The Antelopes wrapped up their exhibition slate with a home game on Nov. 8 against San Diego Christian. GCU will officially open their season tonight when it plays UNLV. Last season, the Antelopes lost exhibition games at UNLV and Utah State. They lost their season opener on the road against Utah.
VS. UNLV: The Antelopes hold a 3-2 lead in the all-time series between the two schools. The schools last met in a regular-season game in 1963. The ‘Lopes are 0-2 here in Vegas. GCU traveled to the Thomas and Mack Center last season and dropped a 90-66 decision in an exhibition game with the Rebels. GCU fell behind 50-25 in the first half, but outscored UNLV 41-40 in the last 20 minutes.
LAST TIME OUT: GCU used a 30-8 run in the second half to down San Diego Christian 83-59. Jerome Garrison finished with a team-high 14 points. Brad Carroll and Justin Wesolowski added 11. GCU shot 51.8% from the floor and made 22-of-26 free throws (84.6%). They outrebounded the Hawks 37-32, including 25-15 in the second half.
FOR OPENERS: The Antelopes have lost both of their season openers under Russ Pennell. They lost a neutral site game to Western Washington in 2009-10 and lost at Utah last season. GCU last won a season opener to begin the 2007-08 campaign when they defeated New Mexico Highlands.
THE BIG “O”: Brad Carroll enters his junior season after averaging 9.2 points per game last year, third-best on the team. Carroll led the team with a .418 shooting percentage (38-for-91) behind the arc. He was clutch from the line, sinking 46-of-51 shots attempted for a .902 average. Carroll scored 31 points on 9-for-33 shooting in GCU’s three exhibition games. He was recently named to the 2011-12 PacWest Preseason All-Conference team.
SPEED TRAP: Senior Kyle Speed finished the 2010-11 season leading the PacWest in assist/turnover ratio (3.37). He ranked fourth in the nation. Speed was second in the league in steals (1.3), fifth in assists (3.5) and 10th in 3-point field-goal percentage (38.0). He led GCU in scoring at 10.0 per game and was named to the All-PacWest Second Team in 2010-11. Speed, along with Carroll, was recently named to the 2011-12 PacWest Preseason All-Conference team.
THE FROSH: Freshmen Jerome Garrison and Justin Foreman have both had impressive starts to their GCU careers. Garrison has scored 40 points over the first three games on 13-for-26 shooting. Foreman has 32 points and 12 rebounds in his first three contests.
LOOKING BACK: GCU went 14-12 last season, finishing fourth in the PacWest. The Antelopes jumped out to an 8-3 conference mark, before falling in five of their last six contests. GCU was second in the conference in scoring defense, holding opponents to 68.1 points per game. They were third in PacWest 3-point percentage with a .369 average (155-for-420). The 155 3- point baskets made ranked third in the conference.
IN THE HUNT: GCU was recently picked to finish second in the PacWest Conference Preseason Poll. The ‘Lopes received two first-place votes. BYU-Hawai’i was picked first by the conference coaches and received eight first-place votes. Dixie State was also picked second, along with GCU, with Chaminade tabbed for fourth. PacWest newcomer Cal Baptist rounded out the top five.
GCU ADDS THREE: Camyn Boone, Jeff Lowery and Derreck Brooks have signed NLI’s to play for GCU in 2012-13. All three recruits hail from the local area. Boone, a 6-7 forward from Mesa Mountain View, was an Honorable Mention All-State Arizona Republic selection as a junior. Lowery, a 6-1 point guard for Desert Vista in Phoenix, averaged 10.7 points as a junior. Brooks, a 6-5 guard/forward, averaged 18.9 points and 5.3 rebounds for Desert Ridge in Mesa last season.
AT THE HELM: Russ Pennell is in his third season with GCU. He has a 30-28 record over his first two seasons, leading the ‘Lopes to a 14-12 record in 2010-11. It was the first winning campaign for the Antelopes since 2006-07. Pennell was the interim head coach at Arizona during the 2008-09 season, after Lute Olson retired, leading the Wildcats to the Sweet 16 and 21-14 record. He was an assistant coach for Rob Evans at Arizona State and Mississippi. Pennell began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State under Eddie Sutton. Pennell has an overall coaching record of 51-42 in three seasons.
THE NEW DIGS: This season marks the debut of Grand Canyon University Arena. GCU Arena is the latest in the campus’ continued growth and will seat 4,602 fans for basketball in a state-of-the-art venue that will also host musical performances, speaking engagements and conferences. Last October the University opened a brand-new 55,000 square foot Recreational Center that features three basketball courts and practice facilities for wrestling and volleyball. The “Rec Center” is decked out with impressive athletic training and strength and conditioning rooms for all GCU athletes.
ABOUT THE PACIFIC WEST CONFERENCE: The Pacific West Conference has 10 members representing the states of Arizona, California, Hawai’i and Utah. The conference sent three teams to the postseason last year. BYU-Hawai’i was the national runner-up, losing in the NCAA Division II Championship game to Bellarmine, 71-68. Dixie State downed conference-foe Chaminade in the first round of the West Region bracket, eventually losing to BYU-Hawai’i in the regional championship.
HOW CAN I FOLLOW? We will have many different options to follow the ‘Lopes this season. Keep checking here for the latest news. Both men’s and women’s basketball can be viewed or heard by going to www.gculopes.com. GCU Alum, Michael Potter, will be handling the play-by-play for the games. Dan Nichols, GCU Assistant AD and basketball head coach at South Mountain CC, will join the broadcast this season as an analyst. ‘Lopes Lead-in will begin 10 minutes prior to tip-off of each game. Live stats are also available at www.gculopes.com.
RUSS PENNELL COACHES SHOW: The “Russ Pennell Coaches Show” will air every Tuesday at 5:15 p.m. during the college basketball season on THE FAN AM 1060. The show will be hosted by Mike Muraco and Dan Manuchi (Roc and Manuch) during their “Calling All Sports” program, weekdays from 3 - 6 p.m. For people outside of the Phoenix market, the show can be heard live at www.kdus.com.
STEP RIGHT UP AND GET YOUR TICKETS: Season and single game tickets are available for purchase at www.gcuarena.com, by phone at 602.639.8999 or the Grand Canyon University Arena Box Office located at 3300 W. Camelback Road in Phoenix.
GAME NOTES
STIFF COMPETITION: GCU is opening the 2011-12 season with three of their first four games coming against D-I opponents. GCU opened their exhibition season in Eugene against the Oregon Ducks on Nov. 2 and played at home against Arizona State on Nov.5. The Antelopes wrapped up their exhibition slate with a home game on Nov. 8 against San Diego Christian. GCU will officially open their season tonight when it plays UNLV. Last season, the Antelopes lost exhibition games at UNLV and Utah State. They lost their season opener on the road against Utah.
VS. UNLV: The Antelopes hold a 3-2 lead in the all-time series between the two schools. The schools last met in a regular-season game in 1963. The ‘Lopes are 0-2 here in Vegas. GCU traveled to the Thomas and Mack Center last season and dropped a 90-66 decision in an exhibition game with the Rebels. GCU fell behind 50-25 in the first half, but outscored UNLV 41-40 in the last 20 minutes.
LAST TIME OUT: GCU used a 30-8 run in the second half to down San Diego Christian 83-59. Jerome Garrison finished with a team-high 14 points. Brad Carroll and Justin Wesolowski added 11. GCU shot 51.8% from the floor and made 22-of-26 free throws (84.6%). They outrebounded the Hawks 37-32, including 25-15 in the second half.
FOR OPENERS: The Antelopes have lost both of their season openers under Russ Pennell. They lost a neutral site game to Western Washington in 2009-10 and lost at Utah last season. GCU last won a season opener to begin the 2007-08 campaign when they defeated New Mexico Highlands.
THE BIG “O”: Brad Carroll enters his junior season after averaging 9.2 points per game last year, third-best on the team. Carroll led the team with a .418 shooting percentage (38-for-91) behind the arc. He was clutch from the line, sinking 46-of-51 shots attempted for a .902 average. Carroll scored 31 points on 9-for-33 shooting in GCU’s three exhibition games. He was recently named to the 2011-12 PacWest Preseason All-Conference team.
SPEED TRAP: Senior Kyle Speed finished the 2010-11 season leading the PacWest in assist/turnover ratio (3.37). He ranked fourth in the nation. Speed was second in the league in steals (1.3), fifth in assists (3.5) and 10th in 3-point field-goal percentage (38.0). He led GCU in scoring at 10.0 per game and was named to the All-PacWest Second Team in 2010-11. Speed, along with Carroll, was recently named to the 2011-12 PacWest Preseason All-Conference team.
THE FROSH: Freshmen Jerome Garrison and Justin Foreman have both had impressive starts to their GCU careers. Garrison has scored 40 points over the first three games on 13-for-26 shooting. Foreman has 32 points and 12 rebounds in his first three contests.
LOOKING BACK: GCU went 14-12 last season, finishing fourth in the PacWest. The Antelopes jumped out to an 8-3 conference mark, before falling in five of their last six contests. GCU was second in the conference in scoring defense, holding opponents to 68.1 points per game. They were third in PacWest 3-point percentage with a .369 average (155-for-420). The 155 3- point baskets made ranked third in the conference.
IN THE HUNT: GCU was recently picked to finish second in the PacWest Conference Preseason Poll. The ‘Lopes received two first-place votes. BYU-Hawai’i was picked first by the conference coaches and received eight first-place votes. Dixie State was also picked second, along with GCU, with Chaminade tabbed for fourth. PacWest newcomer Cal Baptist rounded out the top five.
GCU ADDS THREE: Camyn Boone, Jeff Lowery and Derreck Brooks have signed NLI’s to play for GCU in 2012-13. All three recruits hail from the local area. Boone, a 6-7 forward from Mesa Mountain View, was an Honorable Mention All-State Arizona Republic selection as a junior. Lowery, a 6-1 point guard for Desert Vista in Phoenix, averaged 10.7 points as a junior. Brooks, a 6-5 guard/forward, averaged 18.9 points and 5.3 rebounds for Desert Ridge in Mesa last season.
AT THE HELM: Russ Pennell is in his third season with GCU. He has a 30-28 record over his first two seasons, leading the ‘Lopes to a 14-12 record in 2010-11. It was the first winning campaign for the Antelopes since 2006-07. Pennell was the interim head coach at Arizona during the 2008-09 season, after Lute Olson retired, leading the Wildcats to the Sweet 16 and 21-14 record. He was an assistant coach for Rob Evans at Arizona State and Mississippi. Pennell began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Oklahoma State under Eddie Sutton. Pennell has an overall coaching record of 51-42 in three seasons.
THE NEW DIGS: This season marks the debut of Grand Canyon University Arena. GCU Arena is the latest in the campus’ continued growth and will seat 4,602 fans for basketball in a state-of-the-art venue that will also host musical performances, speaking engagements and conferences. Last October the University opened a brand-new 55,000 square foot Recreational Center that features three basketball courts and practice facilities for wrestling and volleyball. The “Rec Center” is decked out with impressive athletic training and strength and conditioning rooms for all GCU athletes.
ABOUT THE PACIFIC WEST CONFERENCE: The Pacific West Conference has 10 members representing the states of Arizona, California, Hawai’i and Utah. The conference sent three teams to the postseason last year. BYU-Hawai’i was the national runner-up, losing in the NCAA Division II Championship game to Bellarmine, 71-68. Dixie State downed conference-foe Chaminade in the first round of the West Region bracket, eventually losing to BYU-Hawai’i in the regional championship.
HOW CAN I FOLLOW? We will have many different options to follow the ‘Lopes this season. Keep checking here for the latest news. Both men’s and women’s basketball can be viewed or heard by going to www.gculopes.com. GCU Alum, Michael Potter, will be handling the play-by-play for the games. Dan Nichols, GCU Assistant AD and basketball head coach at South Mountain CC, will join the broadcast this season as an analyst. ‘Lopes Lead-in will begin 10 minutes prior to tip-off of each game. Live stats are also available at www.gculopes.com.
RUSS PENNELL COACHES SHOW: The “Russ Pennell Coaches Show” will air every Tuesday at 5:15 p.m. during the college basketball season on THE FAN AM 1060. The show will be hosted by Mike Muraco and Dan Manuchi (Roc and Manuch) during their “Calling All Sports” program, weekdays from 3 - 6 p.m. For people outside of the Phoenix market, the show can be heard live at www.kdus.com.
STEP RIGHT UP AND GET YOUR TICKETS: Season and single game tickets are available for purchase at www.gcuarena.com, by phone at 602.639.8999 or the Grand Canyon University Arena Box Office located at 3300 W. Camelback Road in Phoenix.
Friday, June 05
Wednesday, June 03
Tuesday, June 02
Tuesday, June 02