PHOENIX – Fiifi Aidoo poured in a team-high 14 points to lead four double-figure scorers and propel Western Athletic Conference preseason favorite Grand Canyon to an 86-56 win over Longwood Thursday evening at GCU Arena.
Aidoo did most of his damage in a 10-point first half and finished 6-of-8 from the field as the Antelopes (9-3) improved to 9-1 on their home floor. Carey Benson added 11 points, and Oscar Frayer and Matt Jackson added 10 apiece to help Grand Canyon roll past a shorthanded Longwood squad playing its final non-conference game of the season.
Longwood (3-10), playing without leading scorer Isaiah Walton, starting guard Charles Glover and key reserve Jahleem Montague, struggled to score against a Grand Canyon defense that entered the game holding opponents to a WAC-low 59.2 points per game. Led by a two-steal, two-block effort from senior guard Shaq Carr, Grand Canyon shut down Longwood’s perimeter shooting and held the Lancers to a season-low three three-pointers.
Two of those treys came from Longwood freshman Kamil Chapman, who matched redshirt senior B.K. Ashe with a team-high 13 points. JaShaun Smith also added 11 points for the Lancers.
Thursday’s loss signals the end of the non-conference schedule for Longwood, which gets a nine-day break before the Big South opener at Charleston Southern on Dec. 30.
#GoWood
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Chris Cook
Longwood University
