Completed Event: Men's Basketball at Baylor on October 10, 2025 , Loss , 74, to, 79
M Basketball
at Baylor
L 74-79
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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Thursday, March 1
GCU Arena
6:30 p.m.
Grand Canyon
71
vs
63
California Baptist
Witherill scored 15 tonight.
Grand Canyon Wins Eighth Straight; Keeps Tourney Hopes Alive
3/1/2012 8:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Grand Canyon University men’s basketball team ran their winning streak to eight games this evening, defeating Cal Baptist 71-63 at Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix, Ariz.
The win improves the Antelopes overall record to 18-7, 12-5 in the Pacific West Conference. The Lancers fell to 16-8, 10-7 in the league.
“It was a very hard fought game and physical,” said head coach Russ Pennell. “Cal Baptist is an extremely good team. Even though they are new to this league, they are not new to the basketball coaches in our league. They have had some tremendous success and we knew they would come in here and give us quite a fight. Saying that I thought our guys really stood up. Every time they would make a run, our guys would find a way to offset it. The determination of our guys won this game.”
The two sides traded baskets in the opening minutes of the first half, but a three-pointer from Nick Witherill gave the ‘Lopes a 14-11 lead with 12 minutes remaining. It was a lead the Antelopes would not surrender. GCU built leads of eight points on multiple occasions in the opening half and led by that margin, 35-27, going in to the break. Witherill led the Antelopes, scoring 11 of his 15 points in the opening half.
Canyon was able to maintain no less than a five-point advantage throughout the second half, shooting 52.6 percent in the final 20 minutes. The Antelopes would use a 7-0 run, highlighted by five points from Justin Foreman, to open their biggest lead of the game at 69-57 with just over two minutes left.
For the second straight game, GCU had five players score in double figures. Braylon Pickrel recorded his third-straight double-double and fourth in the past five games, scoring 13 points with 10 rebounds. Jerome Garrison finished with 13, while Foreman and Kyle Speed each had 11.
“That is the way I love to coach and the way I loved to play,” said Pennell. “Your opponent is preparing for you and it makes it impossible to key on one person. It makes us more balanced and I believe makes us practice better and our moral is better because each night every guy knows that they need and can contribute.”
The ‘Lopes finished the game shooting 50 percent (23-for-46), the fourth time they have shot 50 percent or better this season. They held the Lancers to 39.3 percent shooting for the game.
Canyon will close out the regular season on March 3 with a critical game against Dixie State at GCU Arena. GCU is currently ranked 10th in the NCAA West Region poll. The top-eight teams in the region earn a postseason berth. GCU will need a win over the Red Storm, who is fourth in the region and 2012 PacWest Champions, to improve their chances at a postseason bid. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
“Dixie State starts with their point guard Maurice Cole,” added Pennell. “In my opinion he is our conference player of the year. We are going to have to do a good job of containing him. They have some good players inside and they will challenge us with the multiple defenses they will run. Tomorrow’s practice will need to be a great day of preparation. That game will be a slugfest like it was tonight and it should be a tremendous college basketball game.”
The game will also send out four players for their final regular season game with Grand Canyon. Seniors Speed, Justin Wesolowski, Witherill and early graduate Travis Currier, will be honored prior to the game.
“Senior night is my least favorite night of the year,” said Pennell. “I hate to see guys leave. I feel like they are my sons. They will no longer be a part of the team, but always part of our basketball family. These guys this year have helped elevate GCU basketball to a point where we can springboard from. They have sacrificed so much to make this team better. I told the guys in the locker room we owe them our best and need to send them off in their final home game with a win.”
GCU 71 CBU 63
The win improves the Antelopes overall record to 18-7, 12-5 in the Pacific West Conference. The Lancers fell to 16-8, 10-7 in the league.
“It was a very hard fought game and physical,” said head coach Russ Pennell. “Cal Baptist is an extremely good team. Even though they are new to this league, they are not new to the basketball coaches in our league. They have had some tremendous success and we knew they would come in here and give us quite a fight. Saying that I thought our guys really stood up. Every time they would make a run, our guys would find a way to offset it. The determination of our guys won this game.”
The two sides traded baskets in the opening minutes of the first half, but a three-pointer from Nick Witherill gave the ‘Lopes a 14-11 lead with 12 minutes remaining. It was a lead the Antelopes would not surrender. GCU built leads of eight points on multiple occasions in the opening half and led by that margin, 35-27, going in to the break. Witherill led the Antelopes, scoring 11 of his 15 points in the opening half.
Canyon was able to maintain no less than a five-point advantage throughout the second half, shooting 52.6 percent in the final 20 minutes. The Antelopes would use a 7-0 run, highlighted by five points from Justin Foreman, to open their biggest lead of the game at 69-57 with just over two minutes left.
For the second straight game, GCU had five players score in double figures. Braylon Pickrel recorded his third-straight double-double and fourth in the past five games, scoring 13 points with 10 rebounds. Jerome Garrison finished with 13, while Foreman and Kyle Speed each had 11.
“That is the way I love to coach and the way I loved to play,” said Pennell. “Your opponent is preparing for you and it makes it impossible to key on one person. It makes us more balanced and I believe makes us practice better and our moral is better because each night every guy knows that they need and can contribute.”
The ‘Lopes finished the game shooting 50 percent (23-for-46), the fourth time they have shot 50 percent or better this season. They held the Lancers to 39.3 percent shooting for the game.
Canyon will close out the regular season on March 3 with a critical game against Dixie State at GCU Arena. GCU is currently ranked 10th in the NCAA West Region poll. The top-eight teams in the region earn a postseason berth. GCU will need a win over the Red Storm, who is fourth in the region and 2012 PacWest Champions, to improve their chances at a postseason bid. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
“Dixie State starts with their point guard Maurice Cole,” added Pennell. “In my opinion he is our conference player of the year. We are going to have to do a good job of containing him. They have some good players inside and they will challenge us with the multiple defenses they will run. Tomorrow’s practice will need to be a great day of preparation. That game will be a slugfest like it was tonight and it should be a tremendous college basketball game.”
The game will also send out four players for their final regular season game with Grand Canyon. Seniors Speed, Justin Wesolowski, Witherill and early graduate Travis Currier, will be honored prior to the game.
“Senior night is my least favorite night of the year,” said Pennell. “I hate to see guys leave. I feel like they are my sons. They will no longer be a part of the team, but always part of our basketball family. These guys this year have helped elevate GCU basketball to a point where we can springboard from. They have sacrificed so much to make this team better. I told the guys in the locker room we owe them our best and need to send them off in their final home game with a win.”
GCU 71 CBU 63
Wilhelm celebrates the putback
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