Tired Bulldogs Drop 68-59 Decision At Liberty Saturday Afternoon
December 06, 2008 | Men's Basketball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Gardner-Webb squandered a tremendous
opportunity at a league road win Saturday, but tired legs turned
into cold shooting and allowed a late Liberty run that wound up a
68-59 win for the hosts.
Gardner-Webb (2-5, 1-1 Big South), playing its sixth road game in
seven outings – and second in three days – came out
shooting darts in the early going, going up 29-20 with 7:10 to play
before intermission. The road-weary ‘Dogs started to sputter
from there, hitting just 1-of-5 shots in the final five minutes of
that half and were left clinging to a 35-33 edge at the break.
The frigidity continued for the Runnin' Bulldogs in the second
stanza, as open opportunities – from underneath to outside the
arc – failed to connect. Gardner-Webb missed 14 of its first
16 shots in the second half, yet played well enough on the
defensive end and on the glass to trail just by two points, 43-41,
with 12 minutes left.
A layup by Josh Henley tied the game at 43 with just over 11
minutes to play, and the two teams traded baskets – albeit
with long stretches between at times – as the Flames decided
the slow the pace on offense and shorten the game, limiting GWU's
ability to get out and run in transition as well.
A 10-footer by Aaron Linn with 5:05 left gave Gardner-Webb a 55-54
lead, but preseason Big South Player of the Year Anthony Smith
would have an answer for Liberty (6-1, 1-1 Big South). The senior
followed his own miss to give the Flames a 56-55 lead at the 4:34
mark and swung momentum severely in favor of the hosts.
Gardner-Webb had its chances to go back in front over the next two
minutes, but missed four open looks and had a turnover in five
possessions. Smith then hit one of two free throws with 2:43
remaining to put the Flames up 57-55 and swished a three-pointer
after another Bulldog miss for a 60-55 edge with 2:08
remaining.
Jonathan Moore's layup with 1:48 left pulled Gardner-Webb back
within three, but Smith worked off a screen for another corner
three seconds later and a 63-57 lead. GWU remained cold the rest of
the way, and Liberty knocked in five free throws in the final
minute to stretch out its margin of victory.
Smith's heroics saw him account for 11 points in a decisive 14-4
run for the Flames. He finished with a game-high 27 points, bailing
out a Flames' squad that saw young star Seth Curry struggle
(4-for-16) from the floor en route to 15 points.
Gardner-Webb shot just 37.9 percent for the game (9-of-26 from
deep) with a hobbled Flittner leading the way with 15 points. Moore
added 14 points and Linn scored 10 points for the Runnin' Bulldogs,
who coughed up the basketball 20 times (19 Liberty points off
turnovers). Josh Henley had 11 boards off the bench for GWU, which
had to play most of the second half without forward Nate Blank
– who picked up his fourth foul less than two minutes after
halftime.
Gardner-Webb will enjoy a short break for final exams, then will
hit the road again for a three-game road trip that includes games
at Wichita State (12/12), Kansas State (12/14) and Western Carolina
(12/17).
