Runnin' Bulldogs Drop 90-82 Decision at Elon Despite Hot Shooting
December 08, 2010 | Men's Basketball
ELON, N.C. - Gardner-Webb shot a season-high 61.4 percent and
scored 82 points, but saw Elon drain 12 three-pointers in a 90-82
loss to the Phoenix at Alumni Gym.
The back-and-forth game featured 14 lead changes and three
ties.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (6-5) put four players in double digits,
but could not put a consistent defensive effort on a surprising
offensive performance by Elon (3-5) - as the Phoenix knocked down
12-of-20 three-pointers and shot a solid 54.5 percent in scoring
more points against the GWU defense than any other team had so far
this season.
Elon led by eight at halftime, and pushed its lead to 13
points early in the second period before Gardner-Webb finally
started to get its defense in synch with its offense. Trailing
52-39 with 17:21 to play in the game, the Runnin' Bulldogs made a
move - sizzling on a 16-2 run to take a 55-54 lead on a steal by
Laron Buggs and layup by Josh Henley with 14:02 to play.
The two teams exchanged small leads for the next five-plus
minutes, and Jon Moore drained a transition three-pointer to put
Gardner-Webb back up 68-67 with 8:14 left. That would be
Gardner-Webb's last lead, as Elon went on an 11-2 spurt to take
control of the game.
The Phoenix led 78-70 with 5:24 left after a Roger Dugas'
trey, and would not allow Gardner-Webb to get closer than four
points the rest of the way, making jump shots and free throws down
the stretch to hold the lead.
Dugas scored a career-high 21 points to go with 10 rebounds
for Elon and Drew Spradlin scored a game-high 24 points. Chris Long
(13 points) and Jack Isenbarger (10 points) also hit double digits
for the Phoenix.
If Elon didn't seize control by virtue of its three-point
marksmanship, it likely did at the free throws stripe, where the
Phoenix made 18-of-21 shots to outscore the Runnin' Bulldogs by 13
points in that category.
Moore led Gardner-Webb with 17 points, Henley added 13 on
6-of-6 shooting, Stefon Johnson had 12 points and Luke Engelken
added 11 for the 'Dogs. Engelken scored all 11 of his points during
an eight-minute stretch in the first half that gave Gardner-Webb a
brief lead midway through the period.
Gardner-Webb continues its grueling road trip on Thursday
night at Oklahoma. Tip is set for 8 pm in Norman and will air on
WGWG-FM (88.3) and on wgwg.org. The 'Dogs will then play at Arizona
State on Saturday at 2:00 pm ET before coming home for exam week.
The final road game before Christmas break comes on Dec. 18 at
Louisville.
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