BOX SCORE
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – Dixie State College felt defeat for the first time in eight games Saturday night at Grand Canyon University. The Antelopes used 20 offensive rebounds to earn 19 extra shots at the hoop to hold off the Storm 82-80 in Pacific West Conference play.
Junior guard Donovan Plunkett (Oroville, CA/Las Plumas) scored a season-high 30 points on 9-of-15 from the floor including a trip of triples and a perfect 9-of-9 from the foul line. Tom Whitehead (St. George, UT/Dixie) and Jeremiah Barnes (Compton, CA/Los Altos) each had 13 points and Adam Ross (Torrance. CA/North Torrance ) chipped in 10.
Although besting their opponents in almost every shooting percentage category, Dixie State (12-4, 6-1 PacWest) surrendered multiple second-chance opportunities to the Lopes. GCU (10-13, 4-3) had five players score in double-figures led by T.J. Benson with 16 points.
Grand Canyon started out of the gates fast forcing five early DSC turnovers for a 12-4 lead at the 16:49 mark. Benson's three upped the advantage to 20-10. Plunkett scored 17 points in a Storm 23-8 run ending with 2:34 left in the half. Antelope guard Steven Morin hit three consecutive triples, the last with 56 seconds on the clock to tie the game 37-37 at halftime. Plunkett had 21 points at the break.
Dixie State scored the opening four points of the second half and enjoyed their only second half lead for just under three minutes as Justin Wesolowski's lay-in knotted the contest at 41-41.
GCU garnered momentum with a 6-0 run featuring back-to-back dunks from a pair of Cameroonians, Gaby Ngoundjo and Rony Tchatchoua. Foul shots moved the Lopes lead to 80-70 with 31 seconds before a two Kevin Lindquist (Gilbert. AZ/Lone Peak) lay-ups and a pair of three balls from Jeremiah Barnes (Compton, CA/Los Altos) cut the GCU margin to two points at the final buzzer.
The Red Storm finished 28-of-46 (60.9%) on the night, 8-of-12 from beyond the arc and 16-of-20 (80%) at the foul line. It was the team's first loss shooting better that 50-percent from the floor. Grand Canyon shot 44-percent, but got 13 more field goal attempts.
Dixie State has a chance for revenge next Saturday night when they welcome the Antelopes to the Burns Arena at 7:30pm.
John Potter and “The Coach” Mike Olson will have the call on the Red Storm Radio Network immediately following the women's contest with GCU scheduled for a 5:30pm tip.
