Runnin' Bulldogs Roll Past Commonwealth Bank Giants, 86-76, Monday Night
August 16, 2011 | Men's Basketball
NASSAU,
Bahamas - Jason Dawson and Stefon Johnson each had double-doubles,
and Dawson narrowly missed a triple-double as Gardner-Webb topped
the Commonwealth Bank Giants, 86-76, Monday night.
The
Runnin' Bulldogs led for all but 3:22 in the game against a team
that won the Bahamas Basketball Federation's national title last
season - and played with three national team players on its roster
Monday night. The Giants fell to Missouri Valley power Creighton by
only 12 points two nights earlier.
"I'm
really proud of the growth of our team from last night to tonight,"
said GWU head coach Chris Holtmann. "[The Giants] had played some
good teams very competitively, so we knew they would be a
challenge. As I told our team, you do not grow a team in 10 days
of practice and two exhibitions in August, especially with eight
new faces. That will come from weeks and months of working
together."
Dawson
finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists to lead the
Runnin' Bulldogs in scoring for the second game in a row. Johnson
added 13 points and 10 rebounds in a strong performance in the
paint - and senior guard Laron Buggs chipped in with 14 points and
five rebounds.
Gardner-Webb's defensive pressure was more effective Monday night,
forcing 18 turnovers and limiting Commonwealth Bank to only 38
percent shooting (26-of-38) from the floor.
The
'Dogs led 32-29 at halftime, and slowly built its lead to double
figures in the third quarter - leading 61-48 heading into the final
10 minutes.
Dawson
and freshman guard Max Landis (eight points, three assists) kept
the pressure on down the stretch, and the GWU reserves held the
lead until the final horn.
Gardner-Webb shot 42.0 percent from the floor and outrebounded the
Giants 43-38. In addition to Dawson and Johnson's work on the
glass, GWU got a solid game for the second night in a row from
center Mike Byron (eight points, seven rebounds, two blocks).
The
Runnin' Bulldogs will fly home early Tuesday afternoon with a
wealth of experience under their belts heading into practice, which
begins in October.
"This
has been a great trip and we are very grateful for it," Holtmann
added. "From visiting the orphanage yesterday, to having fun at the
water park, to the games and educational experience of seeing a
different culture, this has been a very rewarding trip for all of
us."
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