Cold Perimeter Shooting Dooms GWU, 76-64, At Wichita State Friday Night
December 12, 2008 | Men's Basketball
WICHITA, Kan. – Gardner-Webb's three-point stroke was off
the mark Friday night, and the Runnin' Bulldogs couldn't get the
run it needed late in a 76-64 loss at Wichita State.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (2-6) fell victim to an early long distance
barrage from Wichita State's Toure' Murry, who scored 13 of his
game-high 19 points in the opening half. Murry, who came in
shooting just 29 percent from three-point range, buried 3-of-4 in
the opening 20 minutes as the traditionally cold-shooting Shockers
(4-5) knocked in seven of 12 from that distance in the game's first
15 minutes – and led by nine points, 41-32, at the break.
Gardner-Webb would get as close as seven points twice in the second
half, but had trouble generating any consistent results on either
end, as Wichita State pounded the offensive glass regularly (17
offensive boards) to keep its distance down the stretch.
GWU center Auryn MacMillan scored a career-high 17 points (8-of-10
shooting) to pace the ‘Dogs, and was joined by Aaron Linn in
double figures (17 points). GWU shot 43.6 percent for the game
(24-of-55), but hit just 2-of-17 shots from beyond the arc (11.8
percent) and were outrebounded 40-33. GWU had just six
second-chance points in the game, and missed its last nine
three-pointers.
In its last three halves of basketball, Gardner-Webb – a
sharpshooting team regularly from three-point range – has made
just 5-of-30 from long distance (16.7 percent).
In addition to Murry's 19 points, Wichita State got 12 points from
Clevin Hannah and J.T. Durley. The Shocker bench contributed 25
points in the win, as Wichita State overcame 39.4 percent shooting
by hitting a season-high 10 threes and 14-of-17 free throws –
in addition to its control of the glass.
Gardner-Webb will remain on the road for two more games, taking on
Kansas State Sunday (Dec. 14) at 7 pm ET in Manhattan – then
returning to the Carolinas to battle Western Carolina on the road
on December 17.
