Runnin' Bulldogs Drop 73-68 Decision At South Carolina State
November 20, 2011 | Men's Basketball
ORANGEBURG, S.C. - South Carolina State went on a 15-4 run during a four-minute stretch late in the second half, knocking in eight free throws to spark a 73-68 win over Gardner-Webb Saturday night.
The Bulldogs (3-1) made 28-of-42 free throws in the game, with Gardner-Webb (2-2) making just 8-of-16 in the first of a regular season home-and-home between the two squads. The game featured 11 ties and 14 lead changes, with GWU taking control of the game in the second half before South Carolina State's final surge.
The visiting Runnin' Bulldogs led 52-49 with 5:01 to play in the game, but South Carolina State started its run and led by as many as eight points with 41 seconds remaining in the game. Gardner-Webb trimmed the lead to five with 11 seconds remaining on a Max Landis' three-point bucket - but would get no closer.
Landis led Gardner-Webb with a career-high 18 points and Jason Dawson added 12 for the Runnin' Bulldogs, who shot just 39.7 percent for the game (25-of-63) and 10-of-26 from beyond the three-point arc (38.5 percent). Stefon Johnson netted four points and pulled down 11 rebounds for the 'Dogs.
Gardner-Webb was whistled for an eye-popping 31 personal fouls in the game, with Tashan Newsome, Mike Byron and Laron Buggs each fouling out - and Kevin Hartley and Johnson picking up four each.
South Carolina State got 21 points from Khalif Toombs, 16 points from Aaron Martin and 15 points from Presano Bell to lead the way. SCSU shot 39.2 percent for the game and 5-of-17 from long distance (29.4 percent), but its free throw shooting was the major stat of note at the final buzzer.
The Runnin' Bulldogs have little time to rest, as they continue a busy seven days with a game at surging Indiana on Monday at 6:30 pm in Bloomington (Big Ten Network / WGWG-FM 88.3). GWU will have played five games by next Sunday - all away from home - with dates set for Indiana (11/21), Butler (11/23), Savannah State (11/26) and Chattanooga (11/27).
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