'Lopes Pick Up Back-to-Back Road Wins

Saturday, February 4

Hilo, HI

10:30 p.m.

Grand Canyon

Hawaii Hilo

Speed finished with 17 tonight.

2/5/2012 1:04:00 AM | Men's Basketball

The Grand Canyon University men’s basketball team picked up their second-straight road win tonight, defeating UH-Hilo 84-71 at UH-Hilo Gym in Hilo, Hawai’i.

The win improved the Antelopes’ overall record to 12-7, 6-5 in the Pacific West Conference. The Vulcans fell to 1-10, 7-12 in league play.

It was a game of two halves as the Antelopes raced out to a 46-27 lead at the half on 63 percent shooting. The 46 points represented the most points scored in an opening half by GCU and the second-largest halftime lead of the season. In the second half Hilo outscored the ‘Lopes 44-38 and shot 64 percent, cutting the lead to as low as eight.

“It is very difficult to blow people out on the road,” said head coach Russ Pennell. “When you look around college basketball the formula on the road is to get a lead and hold on to it. That’s kind of what we did. The good part is it never got critical and that is the thing I’m the most proud of. We made plays when we needed to make plays.”

Grand Canyon came out firing, hitting 9-of-14 from behind the arc. After leading 15-13 eight minutes into the contest, the ‘Lopes began to assert their will on the game. Justin Foreman scored five straight points to give GCU a 22-14 lead. Nick Witherill then put the game seemingly out of hand, hitting three consecutive three-pointers in a span of 1:32 to put the Antelopes up 41-24 with 2:27 left in the half.

“I think we have put in extra time with our shooting,” said Pennell. “We have always been good shooters, but for whatever reason have not done so as much this year. We have tweaked a few things offensively and are more willing to make that extra pass to get an even better shot. We are definitely starting to sense the momentum changing in our favor.”

Canyon started the second half quickly, building a 57-33 lead just three minutes into the second stanza. The Vulcans began to make some shots and used a 20-4 run over a four-minute span to close within eight at 61-53 with 10:38 to go.

Braylon Pickrel’s put-back basket with 9:06 left would give the ‘Lopes a double-digit lead at 66-55, the closest the Vulcans would get the rest of the night.

Five Antelopes players finished with 10 or more points, led by Kyle Speedand Jerome Garrison’s 17 points. Witherill and Pickrel had 11, while Steve Morin had 10. It was Morin’s third-straight double digit game.

For the second straight game, GCU shot 54 percent from the floor. They finished 12-for-23 from three-point range, a 52 percent clip.

The men return home tomorrow but will not be there long, as they travel to Riverside, Calif. to take on California Baptist on Feb. 11. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. (Arizona time). Following the game with the Lancers, GCU will finish the season with five of their last six games coming at Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix. The Antelopes are 10-1 at home this season.

GCU 84 Hilo 71