Linn Leads Runnin' Bulldogs Past Presbyterian, 78-72, Wednesday Night
February 25, 2009 | Men's Basketball
BOILING SPRINGS – Aaron Linn scored 15 points to lead a
group of five players in double figures Wednesday, and Gardner-Webb
used that balanced effort to top Presbyterian 78-72 in Paul Porter
Arena.
Linn added seven assists and two steals, as Gardner-Webb (12-16,
8-9 Big South) clamped down on defense in the second half to win.
Joshua Henley continued his rebounding onslaught, pulling down 17
boards to go with 10 points, as GWU held a 38-35 edge on the glass
in the game.
Auryn MacMillan (13 points), Anton Silver (11 points, six rebounds)
and Jonathan Moore (10 points) also hit double figures for
Gardner-Webb, which shot 45.0 percent for the game and dished off
an efficient 16 helpers on 27 made baskets.
Gardner-Webb led for the entire first half, extending to a 10-point
lead and holding a 42-41 edge at the break. Presbyterian (11-17,
8-9 Big South) would go up early in the second half and lead by as
many as three points, but couldn't find its touch during key
stretches of the final 20 minutes – as GWU's defense harassed
the Blue Hose to 35.7 percent shooting for the frame (10-of-28) and
42.6 percent for the game (3-for-15 from three-point range).
The Runnin' Bulldogs were also able to shut down Blue Hose center
Al'Lonzo Coleman in the second half, as the sophomore scored just
seven markers in the final 20 minutes after going for 17 points in
the opening half. Coleman finished with a game-high 24, hitting
10-of-14 free throws to aide his scoring output.
Josh Johnson (11 points), Chase Holmes (10 points) and Bryan Bostic
(10 points) also scored in double digits for Presbyterian.
Gardner-Webb, currently tied for fifth in the Big South standings,
will attempt to solidify that spot on Saturday night when
Charleston Southern comes to town for a 7 pm ET meeting on February
28.
That game will mark senior night for Linn (Lenexa, Kan.) and Takayo
Siddle (Eden, N.C.).
