Runnin' Bulldogs Hold Off Lipscomb, 74-71, For Road Win Sunday Night
November 14, 2011 | Men's Basketball
In a game that featured nine ties and 16 lead changes, Gardner-Webb (1-1) picked up the win behind accurate free throw shooting and dominant rebounding. The Runnin' Bulldogs owned a 41-28 edge on the glass - including a 27-15 edge in the second half - and made 22-of-26 free throws in the game.
Dawson scored nine points in each half, knocking down 3-of-6 shots from long range and 5-of-6 free throws. Max Landis added 11 points for Gardner-Webb, making all four of his free throw attempts in the final 45 seconds to seal the win. Landis' final pair came with 13.1 seconds left to give GWU a 73-69 lead.
Lipscomb's Zavion Williams followed two misses with a short jumper to cut the lead back to 73-71 with 5.4 seconds left, but Gardner-Webb's Tyler Strange made one of his two free throws on the other end - and the Bison could not get a good look in the closing seconds.
Lipscomb (1-1), coming off a 43-point win over Fort Valley State Friday, led by 21-12 with 9:49 to play before the half, before Dawson led a 19-5 charge to give the Runnin' Bulldogs a 31-26 lead with just under two minutes left until intermission.
Freshman Martin Smith knocked in a pair of shots to key an 8-0 run by Lipscomb to close out the half, however, and the hosts led 34-33 at the break.
Neither team could create any breathing room in the second half, trading leads until Lipscomb pushed ahead 52-47 on a Williams' layup with 11:30 left. Follow shots by Santoine Butler and Laron Buggs tightened that lead quickly, however, and Landis drained a 17-footer with 9:15 to play to give Gardner-Webb a 55-54 edge.
A long three-pointer by Jacob Arnett put Lipscomb back in front, 57-55, on the next possession and a layup by Smith with 7:54 remaining gave the Bison a 59-56 lead. Gardner-Webb again hit the offensive glass to pull closer, with Mike Byron tipping in a miss - and after near two-minute drought for both teams - Dawson nailed a step-back jumper from 19 feet to give Gardner-Webb another one-point lead with 6:00 remaining.
After Williams gave Lipscomb its final lead with 1:15 left on a layup for a 67-66 score - the 16th lead change of the game - Landis came through with a pair of free throws after driving and drawing a foul to give GWU the lead for good.
Gardner-Webb shot 40.0 percent from the floor (24-of-60) and overcame 23 turnovers to win. The Runnin' Bulldogs were effective forcing miscues themselves, as Lipscomb turned the ball over 25 times. GWU's dominance on the glass was key in producing 28 second-chance points (18 offensive rebounds).
In addition to Dawson and Landis, Stefon Johnson supplied 11 points and six rebounds in the post. Donta Kevin Hartley (eight points), Donta Harper (seven points), Santoine Butler (six points) and Mike Byron (six points, five rebounds, two blocks) also had solid games in a well-balanced performance for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Williams led all scorers with 20 points, Artnett added 13 and the freshman duo of Martin Smith (13 points) and Malcolm Smith (10 points) also reached double figures. Lipscomb shot 47.1 percent for the game (24-of-51).
Gardner-Webb will open up its home schedule on Wednesday night, hosting Division II Lees McRae at 7:00 pm in Paul Porter Arena (Nov. 16). Call the GWU ticket office at (704) 406-4340 for more information on Wednesday's game.
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