First of Three Key Home Games is Thursday

Thursday, February 17

GCU

7:15 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Hawai'i Pacific

Gaby Ngoundjo is averaging 9.6 points and 8.6 during GCU's homestand.

2/16/2011 8:46:46 AM | Men's Basketball

Antelopes Take on HPU at 7:15 p.m.

By: Steve Heath

With three games in five days, all at Antelope Gymnasium, Grand Canyon hopes to improve its chances in winning a Pacific West Conference championship.

Heading into Thursday’s 7:15 p.m. contest with Hawai’i Pacific, GCU is even with three other teams in the loss column and one-half game out of first place. Chaminade and BYU-Hawai’i are tied for first place with 8-2 records in the PacWest. GCU and Dixie State are both 7-2.

Head Coach Russ Pennell’s Antelopes have won 10 out of their last 12 games and 17 of their last 22 PacWest contests.

Along with Thursday’s contests with HPU, Grand Canyon will cap off Homecoming and Senior Day festivities Saturday with a 5:15 p.m. tipoff against Hawai’i-Hilo. The final home game of the season and final basketball game at Antelope Gymnasium before moving into GCU Arena next season, is 7:15 p.m. Monday against Notre Dame de Namur.

The season wraps up with a four-game road trip in Hawai’i where the ‘Lopes will have contests against first-place foes Chaminade and BYU-Hawai’i.

GCU beat HPU in double-overtime 100-91 at Antelope Gymnasium last season. The ‘Lopes are 6-0 all-time against the Sea Warriors at Antelope Gym.

The contests will be the first of the season against HPU and Hilo. Grand Canyon won at Notre Dame de Namur earlier this season.

"It's unusual to be this deep into the conference and to play two teams we haven't seen before," said Pennell. "Both teams are very athletic. They've been playing people close and their overall records are really good. Hawai’i Pacific has great size and is leading the PacWest rebounding.”

HPU is 10-13 overall and 5-6 in the PacWest, but it has lost three games in overtime and another game by two points.

The Pacific West Conference champion gets an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. The top eight teams in the West Region, including conference champions from the PacWest, California Collegiate Athletic Association and Great Northwest Athletic Conference, will get bids, as well. Currently, Grand Canyon is ranked No. 9 in the West Region.

GAME NOTES