'Lopes Lose Hard-Fought Contest at Chaminade

Monday, February 28

Honolulu, HI

10:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Chaminade

Kyle Speed had a team-high 14 points in Monday's contest at Chaminade.

3/1/2011 1:01:22 AM | Men's Basketball

By: Steve Heath

Grand Canyon was eliminated in the hunt for a Pacific West Conference championship Monday.

But, it didn’t go down without a fight.

“I thought our intensity level was really good,” said coach Russ Pennell, after GCU’s 83-75 loss to Chaminade at McCabe Gym in Honolulu Monday.

“We were going up against big odds ... We fought through adversity. I’d like to have made a few more free throws, but I’m really proud of our effort,” added Pennell.

GCU (14-10, 9-5) trailed much of the way but battled to the end, getting the margin down to four twice in the final minute. It had trailed by as much as 12 in the second half.

“I told our guys if we give that kind of effort all the time, we will become a championship team,” Pennell said. “Our fight was really good and that is all I can ask for.”

Trailing 71-60 with 4;40 to go, senior Rony Tchatchoua scored the next six points, the first two on free throws and the latter four on field goals. He cut the margin to 71-66 with still 3:09 to go.

After Chaminade (19-7, 12-2) scored on a conventional three-point play, GCU junior guard Nick Witherill answered with a 3-pointer.

Down the stretch, Chaminade hit 9-of-10 free throws.

Kyle Speed, who led GCU with 14 points, was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 32.8 left. He hit all three free throws to cut it to 77-73.

Grand Canyon missed nine free throws and shot 69 percent (20-of-29) from the line. Eight of the misses came in the second half.

Speed was the only GCU player in double figures, but Tchatchoua, Steven Morin and Chris Johnson each had nine. Witherill and Fletcher Wynn both scored eight points. Justin Wesolowski had team-highs with five rebounds and two assists.

GCU has two more games remaining. The ‘Lopes travel to BYU-Hawai’i Wednesday. The game will be televised nationally by BYU-TV (Channel 114 on Cox Cable). Tip-off is at 10:30 p.m. MT (7:30 p.m. in Hawai’i).

“Our approach is always the same,” said Pennell. “We’ll go out and try to beat BYU-Hawai’i and Hawai’i Pacific (Saturday). “

Box Score