Runnin' Bulldogs Put Pedal Down In 105-77 Win Over Charleston Southern
December 29, 2007 | Men's Basketball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb led by 20 points at
halftime, had 91 points with more than nine minutes left and led by
as many as 41 points to handle Charleston Southern, 105-77,
Saturday night.
The win for GWU (6-8) was its third in four tries at home, and
snapped a four-game losing streak – which including a loss at
Charleston Southern just two weeks earlier. The Runnin' Bulldogs
continued a promising trend in Paul Porter Arena, where they are
averaging 96.7 points through four home dates.
Thomas Sanders and Aaron Linn each had 22 points, and Sanders
posted his eighth double-double of the season (10 rebounds) in only
23 minutes played (seven minutes in the second half) – as
Gardner-Webb cleared the bench with more than six minutes
remaining. GWU led 91-56 with 9:08 remaining in the game, and went
up 99-58 on a pair of Aaron Linn free throws with 7:08
remaining.
The ‘Dogs went deep into its bench from that point, with no
starters seeing action after the 5:11 mark. Six different GWU
reserves logged career-high totals in minutes played Saturday
night.
There were nine lead changes and two ties early, as both teams were
hot from the floor, but Gardner-Webb took the lead for good with
12:53 to play in the first half on a deep three by Linn –
which gave the ‘Dogs an 18-15 edge. Charleston Southern
trimmed the margin back to one point on a put back by Marquise
Duvall at the first half's 10:25 mark – and trailed by only
two with 7:58 to play before halftime.
Gardner-Webb exploded from there, going on a 25-6 run to close out
the first half – which included four three-point makes –
and led 50-30 at the break.
A 10-2 run by GWU opened play in the second half, pushing the lead
quickly to 60-32 and forcing the Bucs into an early timeout. The
lead grew to 75-39 on another Linn trey with 14:27 remaining, and
would remain above 30 points until 5.8 seconds remained on the game
clock.
Gardner-Webb shot 52.2 percent from the floor in the game,
including a 61.3 percent burst in the first half (19-of-31). GWU
nailed 13-of-23 shots from three-point range (56.5 percent) and had
an efficient 23 assists and only eight turnovers on 35 made
baskets. GWU also owned a 47-35 edge on the glass, pilfered nine
steals and made 22 free throws in the game.
In addition to Sanders and Linn, Gardner-Webb got an effective 18
points and seven assists (no turnovers) from guard Grayson Flittner
(5-of-8 shooting). Nate Blank and Dillon Boggs each had nine points
off the bench for GWU, and Takayo Siddle had eight points and five
assists (no turnovers) to held fuel a very strong offensive
effort.
Gardner-Webb outscored Charleston Southern 31-11 in fastbreak
points and 51-31 in the paint.
Charleston Southern was led by freshman Jamarco Warren, who scored
14 of his team-high 21 points in the final six minutes of action.
Omar Carter added 12 points and Shelton Carter scored eight of his
10 points in the first half. Marquise Duvall had six points and
seven boards in 16 minutes. The Bucs shot just 41.0 percent for the
game (8-of-21 from three-point range) and coughed up 14
turnovers.
Gardner-Webb is in for its toughest home test to date on January 3.
The ‘Dogs will host two-time defending A-Sun Champion Belmont
on Thursday night at 7 pm ET in Paul Porter Arena. The Bruins (7-6)
dropped a tough overtime decision to Horizon League contender
Wright State on the road Saturday night, and have already knocked
off Cincinnati (Big East) and Alabama (SEC) on the road this
season.
Fans interested in tickets should call Gardner-Webb athletics at
(704) 406-4340.
| Box Score |
