Second Half Run Dooms Gardner-Webb In 65-44 Loss at Clemson
November 12, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Gardner-Webb (0-1) used a big run of its own to close out the first half, getting seven points from Laron Buggs in a 16-3 spurt that knotted the game, 29-29, at the half. Jason Dawson's three-pointer with 1:05 to play tied the game - and the Runnin' Bulldogs had the ball with a chance to go in front twice in the final minute of the half.
Clemson (1-0) ratcheted up its defensive pressure in the half court to start the second half, and Gardner-Webb went 4-for-20 from the floor to start as the Tigers slowly pulled away. Bryan Narcisse put home a dunk for a 41-31 lead with 14:34 to play, and Clemson went up 50-35 with 9:27 to play on a T.J. Sapp three-point basket. A pair of free throws by Andre Young with 4:10 to play put the margin to 20 points for good.
Buggs scored 12 of his team-high 14 points in the first half to pace Gardner-Webb. Dawson added seven points and Landis scored six for the 'Dogs, who shot 31.1 percent for the game - and made just 5-of-21 shots in the second half (23.8 percent). GWU had 11 of its 18 turnovers in the second half - including eight in the first seven minutes, allowing an opportunistic Clemson squad too many chances in close.
The Tigers shot 54.3 percent for the game (56.0 percent in the second half), and got 19 points from Young, 11 points from Sapp and 10 from Milton Jennings. Tanner Smith netted six points, 14 rebounds and eight assists for Clemson in an overall floor game.
Gardner-Webb will have little time to rest, as it hits the road again for an 8:15 pm tip at Lipscomb on Sunday, November 13. The game will air live on WGWG-FM (88.3 / wgwg.org).
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