GCU Wins Fifth Straight Home Game with Victory Over Hawai'i Pacific

Tuesday, January 24

GCU Arena

6:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Hawaii Pacific

Witherill finihsed with a game-high 20 points.

GCU Wins Fifth Straight Home Game with Victory Over Hawai'i Pacific

1/24/2012 7:57:00 PM | Men's Basketball

The Grand Canyon University men’s basketball team won, 70-57, over Hawai’i Pacific tonight at Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix in front of a crowd of 3,076.

The Antelopes improved to 10-5 overall, 4-3 in PacWest Conference play and 10-1 at home. The win was GCU’s fifth straight at home. Hawai’i Pacific fell to 7-9 overall and 2-6 in the conference.

“When we have the type of crowd we had here tonight, it’s exciting,” said head coach Russ Pennell. “It was a big league environment in here. The crowd noise was really good and our guys fed of them.”

The ‘Lopes were led by Nick Witherill’s 20 points, two shy of his career-high that he set on Dec. 18, 2010 vs. Montana State-Billings.

“Tonight our seniors were big,” said Pennell. “Nick came off the bench and gave us a big lift – he’s a gunslinger. You are never quite sure what you are going to get, but one thing you do know, he will give you unbelievable effort.”

“I’m trying to get more aggressive now,” said Witherill. “For a few games, especially on the road, I had been a little passive. I have to bring that aggressive mentality that I have in every situation, whether we are at home or on the road. As a shooter, I have to have that mentality.”

Kyle Speed added 18 points and Jerome Garrison chipped in with 14 points. Barret Robbins matched his career high, grabbing a team-high eight rebounds as GCU won the battle of the boards, 31-28. For the game, the ‘Lopes shot 41.5 percent (17-for-41), including a 6-for-14 mark (42.9 percent) from behind the arc.

GCU, who entered the game winless when behind at the half, trailed 31-30 heading into the locker room tonight. The Antelopes shot 38.9 percent from the field (7-for-18) in the first half as the Sea Warriors posted a 45.0 shooting percentage (9-for-20). Witherill led the ‘Lopes with 11 points on 3-for-4 shooting, including 2-for-2 from the three-point line, in the first half.

The ‘Lopes took a 53-48 lead with just over five minutes remaining in the second half following an 18-9 run that began with 12 and a half minutes remaining in the period. GCU outscored the Sea Warriors 40-26 in the second half on 43.5 percent shooting from the field (10-for-23). The ‘Lopes led by as many as 16 points in the second half after a back-and-forth game that saw six lead changes and nine tied scores.

GCU will next be in action when they travel to BYU-Hawai’i on Jan. 28 for the first of four games in Hawai’i. Tip-off is slated for 10:30 p.m. Arizona time. The Antelopes have lost their last eight-straight road contests, dating back to the 2010-11 season. They dropped all four on their trek to the islands last season.

“We have got to cut down on the turnovers, take quality shots and defend well on this road trip,” added Pennell. “If we do those things we will be fine. We had some stretches where we did those things at a tough place like Dixie. Now we need to lengthen those stretches. I think we are up for the challenge.”

“Last year when we lost the first game in Hawai’i, we kind of went in a downward spiral,” said Witherill. “We would beat ourselves up. But this year, we have seniors that have been here for several years and we know what to expect. We just have to be ready knowing the circumstances going into Hawai’i.”

All of the games can be heard by going to www.GCULopes.com. GCU Alum, Michael Potter, will call all of the action.

GCU 70 HPU 57