Grand Canyon Falls in Trip Opener at Hilo

Saturday, February 26

Hilo, HI

7:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Hawai'i at Hilo

Nick Witherill had 14 points in Saturday's PacWest contest at Hilo.

2/27/2011 1:07:51 AM | Men's Basketball

Ngoundjo ties career-high with 16 points

By: Steve Heath

Grand Canyon dropped the first of four games of its regular-season ending road trip to Hawai’i. The Antelopes (14-9, 9-4) lost at Hawai’i-Hilo (16-10, 8-7) 81-69 at UHH Gymnasium Saturday.

After 3-pointers from Kyle Speed and Nick Witherill, GCU tied the game 60-60 with 8:15 remaining, but the Vulcans went on a 9-0 run to regain control of the game.

Hilo shot 56.9 percent from the field, including 64 percent in the second half.

“They shot the ball so well and we couldn’t stop them,” said GCU coach Russ Pennell. “Our defense was good at times and they hit some difficult shots, but if you can’t get stops, it’s hard to get the lead.

“I felt the defensive end let us down tonight.”

Senior center Gaby Ngoundjo tied a career-high with 16 points. Witherill finished with 14 and Fletcher Wynn added 10. Ngoundjo added a game-high seven rebounds. Speed had five assists and two steals.

“We tied it at 60, but we couldn’t get over the hump,” said Speed. “That’s when we needed a stop and we couldn’t get it.”

With three games remaining, GCU dropped two games out of first. With a double-overtime win over BYU-Hawai’i Saturday, Dixie State is deadlocked in a first-place tie with Chaminade. Both teams are 11-2 in the PacWest. BYUH is 11-3.

GCU will take on Chaminade Monday at 10:30 p.m. MT (7:30 p.m. HT).

“I think what we need to do, is learn how to be a fighter,” added Pennell. “Life is tough and life is not fair at times. You have to learn to be resilient and fight hard to be successful. What I want to find out about this team in the next three games is, ‘Will you fight?’”

According to Speed, that’s exactly what he and his teammates will do.

“We have three more games and we can’t pack it in,” said the junior point guard. “We still have a chance at the national playoffs. We’ll bounce back the best we can.”

Box Score