Defense Leads Grand Canyon to Win Over HPU

Thursday, February 17

GCU

7:15 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Hawai'i Pacific

Brad Carroll had a team-high 12 points and four assists in Thursday's 74-57 win over Hawai'i Pacific.

2/17/2011 11:04:47 PM | Men's Basketball

'Lopes hold Sea Warriors to 17.4 percent first-half shooting

By: Steve Heath

Defense was the difference.

Grand Canyon held Hawai’i Pacific to only 17.4 percent first-half field-goal shooting and led from start to finish in a 74-57 Pacific West Conference win at Antelope Gymnasium Thursday.

With the victory, GCU keeps pace with three others, all with two conference losses, at the top of the conference standings. GCU is 13-7 overall and 8-2 in the PacWest. Both Chaminade and BYU-Hawai’i are 9-2 in league play. Dixie State is 8-2.

It was the Antelopes 11th win in their last 13 games and the 10th win of the season at Antelope Gymnasium, the most since winning 11 home games in the 2006-07 season.

“I thought it was one of our better defensive performances of the year,” said GCU second-year head coach Russ Pennell. “Not just the percentage, but the guys were really in tune on our scouting report and what we wanted to do and how we wanted to play them.”

On the offensive side, GCU was just as productive. The Antelopes shot 53.2 percent (25-of-47) from the field and 81 percent (17-of-21) from the free-throw line.

Brad Carroll led three double figure scorers with 12 and added a game-high four assists.

“That’s the combination for success,” said Carroll. “If you play great defense and shoot over 50 percent from the field you’re probably going to win the game.”

Nick Witherill added 11 points and Rony Tchatchoua came off the bench to score 10, on 5-of-7 shooting. Tchatchoua added a pair of steals.

Hawai’i Pacific had just four first-half field goals and went the final six minutes of the half without a field goal.

“Our defense tonight was a total team effort,” said junior guard Fletcher Wynn, who was 2-of-2 from the field, 2-of-2 at the line for six points and added three assists. “We were more defensive-minded than offensive-minded.”

When Carroll scored at the 5:12 mark of the first half it gave GCU a 28-17 lead. The Antelopes carried a double-digit lead the rest of the game.

Senior Gaby Ngoundjo had eight points and a team-high eight rebounds.

Ngoundjo and Tchatchoua, GCU’s only seniors, will be honored prior to Saturday’s Senior Day contest with Hawai’i-Hilo. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. It is also Grand Canyon Homecoming.

Box Score