Radford Shocks Gardner-Webb, 100-97, In Double Overtime
December 03, 2007 | Men's Basketball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb faltered at home for
the first time this season, falling to Radford, 100-97, in a sloppy
double overtime affair at Paul Porter Arena.
The Monday evening slip-up for Gardner-Webb (5-5) came as a direct
result of a tough night at the charity stripe. In a game where 65
total fouls were called, and 100 total free throws taken, GWU hit
just 29-of-51 chances at the line (56.9 percent). Seven total
players were disqualified due to fouls.
Radford (3-6), picked to finish eighth in the eight-team Big South
Conference, made 36-of-49 free throw chances (73.5 percent).
The Highlanders got nine of its 14 points in the second overtime
period from guard Kenny Thomas (24 points total), helping avenge a
93-83 loss to Gardner-Webb in Virginia back on November 17.
Gardner-Webb was sluggish from the tip, falling behind 12-2,
trailing 32-28 at halftime and not taking its first lead until the
second overtime – an 88-86 edge on Takayo Siddle's floater
with 4:26 to play in the final segment.
Thomas tied the game, 88-88, on a free throw line jumper just a
minute later, and gave the Highlanders an 89-88 lead on a free
throw with 3:10 to play. After a follow dunk by Gardner-Webb's
Samba Fall tied the game again at 94-94, the Highlanders caught the
break of the game – as Jamar Jenkins' three-point attempt hit
rim, banked off the 35-second shot clock and went in to give
Radford the lead for good at the 58-second mark.
GWU missed three long distance shots in an attempt to tie in the
final 13 seconds and the visitors escaped with the win.
Both Gardner-Webb and Radford had chances to win the game in the
final seconds of both regulation and the first overtime. GWU had
the last shot each time, but missed both chances at the respective
buzzers.
Thomas Sanders, who led GWU with 21 points, 15 rebounds and eight
assists, fouled out early in the final overtime period –
joining Nate Blank and Matt French on the disqualified list for the
Bulldogs. Radford saw starters Joey Lynch-Flohr and Amir Johnson
foul out, and Martell McDuffy ejected after garnering his second
technical foul of the game in the second half of regulation.
Johnson led all scorers with 26 points, hitting 8-of-14 shots.
Thomas (24 points) and McDuffy (14 points) also scored in double
figures for the Highlanders – who picked up their first win
over a Division I team this season.
In addition to Sanders, Gardner-Webb got 20 points apiece from
Grayson Flittner and Aaron Linn, although the pair combined to hit
just 9-of-34 field goals (26.4 percent) in a tough shooting night.
French (12 points) and Siddle (11 points) hit double digits off the
bench.
Gardner-Webb started cool from the floor and never heated up fully,
shooting just 38.7 percent for the game (29-of-75) and only
10-of-31 from three (32.3 percent).
Radford was much more effective, shooting 60.0 percent in the
second half of regulation (15-of-25) and 50.0 percent in the two
overtime periods (4-of-8) to finish at 48.3 percent for the game
(29-of-60).
Gardner-Webb will next play at Conference USA member Tulane, with
tip set for Dec. 8 in New Orleans (3 pm ET). The Runnin' Bulldogs
won't return home until a December 29 game against Charleston
Southern – with road games at Tulane (Dec. 8), Charleston
Southern (Dec. 15) and Charlotte (Dec. 22) coming before that
homecoming.
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