GWU Men To Open Home Schedule Tuesday Night At 8:00 pm
November 12, 2007 | Men's Basketball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb will open its home
schedule on Tuesday night at 8:00 against North Greenville (S.C.)
in Paul Porter Arena.
The Runnin' Bulldogs have won four straight in Paul Porter Arena,
with that run coming late in conference play last season. North
Greenville hasn't visited Boiling Springs since the opener of the
2004-2005 season, and has lost all four meetings with GWU in Porter
Arena.
Gardner-Webb (2-0) is coming off an impressive performance in
Lexington, Ky., which included an 84-68 win over No. 20 Kentucky in
the regional finals of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic –
which benefits Coaches vs. Cancer.
That performance garnered seven votes for the Runnin' Bulldogs in
this week's Associated Press Top 25, which marks the first time in
the school's history that it has received votes in the weekly
tabulation conducted by the news service.
Gardner-Webb is led by junior college transfer Aaron Linn (6-3,
180, Jr.), an explosive and efficient point guard who averaged 19.5
points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists in Lexington, earning regional
MVP honors and A-Sun Co-Player of the Week honors as a result.
Linn, Grayson Flittner (14.5 ppg, 4.5 assists per game), Thomas
Sanders (15.0 ppg, 12.0 rpg) and freshman Nate Blank (11.0 ppg)
have each played important roles in the team's two double-figure
wins in Kentucky's Rupp Arena, as has sophomore center Auryn
MacMillan (7.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg) – who threw his 6-foot-8,
235-pound frame around with controlled force in the paint last week
against two much taller teams.
A very strong bench has helped as well, with Takayo Siddle – a
30-game starter last season – filling an important role at
both guard spots – averaging 3.5 assists and 5.5 points per
game off the bench. Athletic forward Lu Dovonou (6-5, 230, So.) and
rangy center Samba Fall (6-8, 215, Jr.) have provided depth in the
paint, while athletic wing Quincy Sarpy (6-4, 205, Jr.) has been
effective when called upon so far. Matt French (6-7, 220, So.)
rounds out the regular reserves through two games for GWU.
Gardner-Webb has made as many free throws through two games (46) as
its opponents have attempted, and hit a strong 21-of-27 charity
chances in the second half at Kentucky. GWU has also limited
opponents to a frigid 35.1 percent effort from the floor –
with Linn and his backcourt mates providing excellent ball
pressure.
In two games, the starting backcourts for Gardner-Webb's opposition
have combined to knock in just 14-of-46 baskets (5-of-22 from
three-point range).
Opening tip Tuesday is set for 8 pm ET in Porter Arena. Fans
interested in purchasing tickets can call the GWU athletics office
at (704) 406-4340.
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