'Lopes Win Home Opener

Wednesday, November 16

GCU Arena

6 p.m.

Grand Canyon

The Master's College

Speed scored 15 this evening.

Photo by: Roy Dabner

11/16/2011 7:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball

For the ninth consecutive year, the Grand Canyon University men's basketball team won their home opener, defeating The Master's College 77-70 tonight at Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix.

The Antelopes grabbed the lead just over two minutes into the game, built a 17-point first-half lead and seemed to be in cruise control. However, the game turned into a tight affair that saw the Mustang’s pull within four at the break and within two on multiple occasions in the second half.

“I thought it was a good basketball game tonight against a solid team,” said head coach Russ Pennell. “They were undefeated coming in tonight for a reason and their guards are about as good as we will see this year. I like the way we held our composure and stayed ahead throughout the game. We had a chance to stretch the lead out in the first half but we didn’t do it, but were mature enough to keep our cushion and hit free throws in the second half to win the ballgame."

GCU (1-1) shot 55.6% from the floor in the first half and used three steals from Kyle Speed to race to a 37-20 lead with 5:42 remaining in the half. The Mustangs (4-1) would make a late run of their own, a 15-2 answer, that helped trim the lead to four.

The ‘Lopes shot only 25% in the second half but made 28 trips to the foul line, sinking 20 of them, to close out the win. Blake Davis scored all eight of his points from the line, while teammates Jerome Garrison and Jerome Garrison were a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe.

Speed led Grand Canyon with 15 points. Justin Wesolowski had nine points and a career-high 14 rebounds, 10 of which came in the opening 20 minutes.

GCU went to the line 40 times on the evening, making 30 shots. They out-rebounded the Mustangs, 43-34.

GCU will next be in action on Nov. 25, when they host 2010-11 tourney team Seattle Pacific at GCU Arena at 7:15 p.m. SPU defeated the University of Arizona in an exhibition game in Tucson earlier this season. The game will be carried live on Cox 7 in Phoenix. The next night the Antelopes will face another tourney team from last season, when Fort Lewis will be in GCU Arena for a 7:15 p.m. contest.

“We have got to get better before we play the next two games,” added Pennell. “We realize Seattle Pacific is one of the premier teams in the west. They will be one of the best teams, if not the best team in the GNAC. They already have a few really nice wins, with a marquee win over Arizona in the exhibition season. Fort Lewis is very much the same way. They have a tremendous coach in Bob Hofman who has been there a long time. We knew scheduling that weekend would be a test. We thought that it needed to occur to give us an opportunity to find out if we are one of the best teams in the country. That weekend will tell us a lot about our team.”

GCU 77 TMC 70

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