Game Notes Holiday Inn Christmas Classic Vs
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2011-12 SCHEDULE & RESULTS Dixie State November Time/Result at 2 at Oregon (ex.) L, 75-82 5 at Arizona State (ex.) L, 69-89 Grand Canyon 8 SD CHRISTIAN (ex.) W, 83-59 March 3, 2012 11 at UNLV L, 66-83 6:30 p.m. (AZ Time) 16 MASTER’S COLLEGE W, 77-70 HOLIDAY INN THANKSGIVING CLASSIC Record: 20-5, 15-2 Phoenix, Ariz. Record: 18-7, 11-5 25 SEATTLE PACIFIC W, 67-58 Head Coach: Jon Judkins GCU Arena Head Coach: Russ Pennell 26 FORT LEWIS W, 81-66 Conference: Pacific West Conference: Pacific West December 3 *NDNU W, 76-66 10 N. NEW MEXICO W, 69-49 GAME NOTES HOLIDAY INN CHRISTMAS CLASSIC VS. DIXIE STATE: GCU trails the all-time series, 10-3. The Red Storm defeated the Antelopes 73-56 16 SAINT MARTIN’S L, 69-78 on Jan. 16 in St. George, Utah. Dixie has already clinched the PacWest Conference Championship 17 CS BERNARDINO W, 66-49 and the automatic bid to the NCAA tourney. DSC lost their last time out, a 73-71 setback to 30 ARIZONA CHRISTIAN W, 83-68 Chaminade on Feb. 25. The Red Storm had won their previous 13 games in a row. January LAST TIME OUT: Grand Canyon won for the eighth-straight time, defeating Cal Baptist 71-63 on 3 *at Dominican L, 62-72 March 1 at GCU Arena. For the second-straight game, five GCU players scored in double figures. 5 *at NDNU L, 65-70 11 *DOMINICAN W, 81-54 Nick Witherill led the Antelopes with 15 points. Braylon Pickrel posted 13 points and 10 rebounds 16 *at Dixie State L, 56-73 on the night. 19 *HAWAI’I HILO W, 77-64 POLLING PLACES: The Antelopes entered the NCAA West Region poll for the first time this season, 24 *HAWAI’I PACIFIC W, 70-57 ranked 10th. The top-eight teams in the region make it to the NCAA tourney. Selections for the 28 *at BYU-Hawai’i L, 75-79 tournament will be made on Sunday evening. A win tonight by the Antelopes will make the 30 *at Chaminade L, 66-69 (ot) selection show a “must-see” in your viewing plans Sunday evening. NCAA.com will stream the February selection show, beginning at 8:30 p.m. (AZ time). 1 *at Hawai’i Pacific W, 73-56 HOME SWEET HOME: GCU is 14-1 at the new Grand Canyon University Arena. The Antelopes have 4 *at Hawai’i Hilo W, 84-71 11 *at Cal Baptist W, 65-55 averaged 2,205 fans per game this season, compared to 1,175 a year ago. They are 34-8 all-time at 13 *ACADEMY OF ART W, 75-59 home under head coach Russ Pennell (previous two seasons were played at Antelope Gym). 20 *BYU-HAWAI’I W, 72-59 ROAD IMPROVEMENTS: GCU won their last four straight games on the road. It is the first time 22 *CHAMINADE W, 77-69 they have done so since winning six straight away from home in the 2006-07 season. The ‘Lopes 25 *at Academy of Art W, 82-50 had lost 10 in a row, dating back to the 2010-11 season, prior to the current four-game win streak. March STREAKING: Grand Canyon has won eight-straight games and 10 of their last 12. The last time they 1 *CAL BAPTIST W, 71-63 won as many as eight in a row was when they put together a 10-game streak from Feb. 7 – March 3 *DIXIE STATE 6:30 p.m. 9, 2007. That season the Antelopes went to the NCAA Tournament, the last time they have made Home games in CAPS *PacWest Conference games All times are Arizona time and subject to change. it to postseason play. “PICK” OF THE WEEK: Braylon Pickrel has been named the Pacific West Conference Men’s GCU BASKETBALL QUICK FACTS: Basketball Player of the Week for games contested Feb. 20-26. In wins over BYU-Hawai’i, Name: Grand Canyon University (1949) Chaminade and Academy of Art, Pickrel averaged 17.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 5.3 blocks per Enrollment: 4,400 (ground), 38,000 (online) game. He ranked first in rebounding and in blocked shot average, and topped the league in free Nickname: Antelopes throw shooting for the week after going 13-for-13 from the line. Colors: Purple/Black/White Executive Chairman: Brent Richardson FRESHMAN IMPACT: Jerome Garrison is averaging 10.3 points per game, the second highest CEO: Brian Mueller among freshmen in the PacWest Conference. Garrison has scored in double digits in 14 games this Director of Athletics: Keith Baker season, including five in a row from Jan. 30 – Feb. 13. Garrison leads the conference with a .847 Facility: GCU Arena (4,602) free throw percentage. BASKETBALL HISTORY POINT LEADERSHIP: Senior Kyle Speed has scored in double-digits in 19 of his 24 games played nd First year: 1949-50 (62 season) this season. Speed led the team in scoring in nine of those games. He scored a season-high 20 Overall Record: 1,037-658 points on Jan. 28 at BYU-Hawai’i and Feb. 22 vs. Chaminade. His 13.4 points-per-game ranks 10th Postseason: 17 apps. (NAIA and NCAA) in the PacWest. Speed leads the team with 79 assists and 36 steals. National Titles: 3 (’75,’78,’88 - all NAIA) NOTABLE BASKETBALL ALUMS: “DUB” GETS BUSY ON THE BOARDS: Senior Justin Wesolowski has pulled down 59 rebounds in his Players: Bayard Forrest (1972-76); Horacio Llamas (1994- last eight games. He is seventh in the PacWest, averaging 6.4 rebounds per game. 96). Coaches: Ben Lindsey (1965-81); John Shumate (1983- WITHERILL LEADS WAY: Senior Nick Witherill has had 11-games in which he has scored in double 86); Paul Westphal (1986-88) figures this season. The Antelopes are 10-1 in those games. Grand Canyon University Antelopes # Antelopes POS YR HT Pts. RB Hometown/High School Notes 0 Brad Carroll G JR 6-6 9.0 3.5 Chandler, AZ/Corona del Sol Will miss remainder of season due to injury (knee). 1 Micah Fetters G FR-R 5-11 0.8 0.3 Chandler, AZ/Hamilton Scored a season-best 7 points on Dec. 10 vs. NNMC. 3 Kyle Speed G SR 6-0 13.4 3.0 Seattle, WA/Lake Washington Ranks 10th in the conference in scoring. 4 Chris Johnson F SO 6-6 7.5 3.2 Phoenix, AZ/Highland Ineligible to play second half of the season. 5 Justin Foreman G FR 6-6 6.2 2.2 Houston, TX/Westbury Christian Averaging 17.2 minutes per game. 10 Steve Morin G JR 6-5 4.6 1.3 Scottsdale, AZ/Saguaro Scored a career-high 16 points on Jan. 30 at Chaminade. 11 Braylon Pickrel F/C JR 6-10 10.5 6.6 Mesa, AZ/Red Mountain Had 23 points, 8 rebounds and 8 blocks on Feb. 20 vs. BYUH. 15 Travis Currier F JR 6-7 0.0 0.3 Gilbert, AZ/Surrey Garden Arizona Republic 1A-3A All-State second team. 21 Jerome Garrison G FR 6-3 10.3 1.9 Phoenix, AZ/Mountain Pointe Leads the conference in free-throw percentage. 22 Justin Wesolowski F/C SR 6-8 7.5 6.4 Mesa, AZ/Mountain View Second on team with a 6.4 rebounds per game average. 23 Barret Robbins C JR 6-8 2.1 3.1 Phoenix, AZ/Desert Vista Recorded a season-high 8 rebounds on Jan. 24 vs. HPU. 25 Dillon Currier G SO 6-5 0.8 0.5 Gilbert, AZ/Gilbert Christian Transfer from Westmont. 32 Killian Larson C JR 6-9 -- -- Puyallup, WA/Puyallup Transfer from Dominican. Will redshirt this season. 40 Blake Davis F SO 6-6 5.4 4.5 Phoenix, AZ/St. Mary’s Scored in double digits on two occasions this season. 44 Nick Witherill G SR 6-3 8.8 2.2 Phoenix, AZ/Highland Scored a season-best 21 on Dec. 17 vs. San Bernardino. 52 Jake Zuilhof F/C FR 6-9 1.1 1.1 Azle TX/Azle Averaged 11.9 points and 8.0 rebs. as a senior in HS. Head Coach Russ Pennell Assistant Coaches Mark Nelson, Anthony Boone, Phil Cullen Strength and Conditioning Coach Chuck Howard Trainer Geordie Hackett GAME NOTES (Cont.) GCU’S 2011-12 RECORD WHEN: FROM THE FLOOR: GCU is averaging 72.2 points per game this season, third in the PacWest Grand Canyon University Arena 14-1 Conference. They are shooting 73 percent from the free throw line, best among PacWest schools. On the road 4-6 GCU has pulled down an average of 35.2 rebounds per game, fourth-best in the league. Overtime games 0-0 DIALING IN FROM DOWNTOWN: Grand Canyon has shot 42 percent (57-for-137) from behind the Leading at the half 15-1 arc in their past seven games, all wins. The ‘Lopes are fourth in the conference, shooting 36 percent Behind at the half 3-5 this season. Tied at the half 0-1 BALANCED ATTACK: Grand Canyon has produced a balanced scoring attack this season. Seven Game decided by 1-5 points 0-3 Antelope players are averaging 7.0 or more points a game this season. Six different players have Game decided by 6-9 points 5-1 been high-point scorers in a game this season. Last season, GCU had four players finish the season Game decided by 10-15 points 7-1 with a 7.0 or more points-per-game average.