Gardner-Webb Men Win Exhibition Bout With Mary Washington, 61-42, Saturday
November 08, 2009 | Men's Basketball
BOILING SPRINGS - Gardner-Webb had little resistance from Mary
Washington Saturday night, rolling to an easy 61-42 exhibition win
at Paul Porter Arena.
The Runnin' Bulldogs clamped down defensively with an effective 2-3
zone for much of the evening, limiting the visitors - a Division
III school from Virginia - to 9-for-40 shooting (22.5 percent) and
only 2-for-19 efficiency (10.5 percent) from three-point range.
Gardner-Webb opened the game on a 26-6 run, led the slow-paced game
34-13 at the break, and rested its starters after going up 38-13
early in the second half. Mary Washington didn't score its first
points of the second half until 11:52 remained in the game and
Gardner-Webb held a 47-13 lead after a pair of free throws from
6-foot-6 freshman guard Thomas Staton.
The Runnin' Bulldogs used the exhibition to continue testing
different lineup combinations, but the team's six newcomers chewed
up the majority of playing time in the second half.
Senior wing Anton Silver came off the bench to pace the GWU scoring
with nine points in 12 minutes of action (2-of-5 on
three-pointers). Auryn MacMillan added eight points, C.J. Hailey
and David Brown had six apiece and freshman forward Stefon Johnson
had seven points.
Preseason All-Conference guard Grayson Flittner played 21 minutes
at point guard and scored four points to go with two assists and
two steals.
Gardner-Webb had a cold night shooting the basketball, making
18-of-54 shots (33.3 percent), but controlled the glass easily and
forced 23 turnovers (nine steals). Forward Josh Henley paced the
effort on the glass with 15 rebounds (seven offensive).
Qaiser Ahmed led Mary Washington with 12 points (8-of-8 free
throws).
Gardner-Webb opens the regular season on Saturday, November 14, at
7 pm vs. Covenant College at home.
