GWU Upset Bid At No. 12 Oklahoma Falls Just Short, 80-76, Saturday
November 22, 2008 | Men's Basketball
NORMAN, Okla. – Gardner-Webb fell, 80-76, Saturday to No.
12 Oklahoma in an upset bid that saw 12 ties or lead changes in the
final 20 minutes.
Gardner-Webb (0-3) took its last lead, 74-73, with 2:27 remaining
on an Aaron Linn three-pointer, but the Sooners (4-0) turned to
All-American Blake Griffin to take the lead for good with 2:12 left
on an old-fashioned three-point play.
The Runnin' Bulldogs had two chances to tie or take the lead on the
next possession, but shots by Lu Dovonou and Grayson Flittner were
just off the mark, and Willie Warren put the hosts up three points
with a free throw with 37 seconds remaining. Another pair of misses
from three-point range with less than 30 seconds left fell short
for Gardner-Webb, and Austin Johnson connected on a pair of free
throws to push the lead to a pair of possessions, 79-74, with 20
ticks on the clock.
Linn's jumper with three seconds left cut the lead to three and
– after another Johnson free throw – Linn was fouled on a
half court attempt with 0.4 left, but the three free throws were
off the mark, sending the 6,571 in the Lloyd Noble Center into a
frenzy at the final buzzer.
Gardner-Webb, still playing shorthanded without injured standout
Nate Blank, has lost its three games by a combined eight points
this season – despite road tilts at ACC contender Virginia
Tech and Big 12 favorite Oklahoma.
Griffin, who posted 23 points and 21 boards in a four-point win
over No. 21 Davidson Tuesday night – was dominant Saturday as
well. The 6-foot-10, 251-pounder – projected as a potential
first pick in next June's NBA Draft – finished with 35 points
and 21 rebounds against the ‘Dogs, and took over in the final
minutes once GWU center Auryn MacMillan fouled out with just under
three minutes remaining.
Linn had 22 points to lead Gardner-Webb. Flittner scored 16 of his
19 points in the first half, connecting on a rare pair of
four-point plays in a shooting exhibition from long range. Freshman
Joshua Henley scored 15 points and pulled down 12 rebounds against
the Sooners' large front line, and out-muscled Griffin for several
boards on both ends. MacMillan, who missed Tuesday's loss at
Longwood, returned to form with 11 points and six rebounds in 34
minutes of action – making all five of his field goal
chances.
Gardner-Webb shots 44.3 percent in the game, and held its own on
the glass, allowing Oklahoma just a four-rebound edge by game's
end. The Sooners shot 41.8 percent for the game, and seemed
frustrated at times from long distance against GWU's switching
defenses (7-for-27 from three-point range). Freshman Willie Warren,
a McDonald's All-America guard last season, added 17 points and
Taylor Griffin had 12 points for the Sooners.
Gardner-Webb trailed by five points at halftime, 42-37, and tied
the game quickly on a three-pointer, steal and ensuing free throw
by Linn with 16:17 to play. The lead see-sawed back and forth until
a pair of Henley jumpers gave the ‘Dogs a 51-49 edge with
14:23 left. GWU went up by four points with 11:42 remaining, saw
Oklahoma rally back in front, and built a 67-62 lead when Henley
nailed a three-pointer with 6:06 to play. Warren and Griffin
combined for all seven points in a 7-2 run that gave the Sooners a
69-68 lead with 3:51 left, but GWU would tie the game twice more
before Linn's three with 2:27 left gave the visitors their final
lead of the day.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will have little time to rest, as they return
to the Carolinas to face SEC contender South Carolina on Tuesday,
Nov. 25, at 7 pm ET (WGWG-FM / SportSouth).
