Runnin' Bulldogs Stun DePaul, 71-59, Thursday Night
November 16, 2012 | Men's Basketball
ROSEMONT, Ill. - Max Landis scored a career-high 20 points and Gardner-Webb led from start to finish to upset Big East member DePaul, 71-59, Thursday night.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (2-2), playing their second game in as many nights and without starters Mike Byron and Tashan Newsome, used an effective zone defense and timely shooting to pull out the win. Gardner-Webb led by as many as 19 points in the second half.
Kevin Hartley added a career-high 16 points and 12 rebounds and Donta Harper scored 13 for the Runnin' Bulldogs - who outrebounded the taller Blue Demons 44-31 and committed only 13 turnovers against DePaul's pressure.
"Given all of the circumstances with our injuries and coming off a tough loss one night before, this is one of hte most significant wins I have ever been a part of," said Gardner-Webb head coach Chris Holtmann. "I am extremely happy and proud of our team. They were aggressive and fearless in their approach and play.
"I'm somewhat at a loss for words to be honest. Just very happy for our kids that they could see their hard work pay off."
Cleveland Melvin led DePaul (1-1) with 18 points, but the hosts did not get closer than 10 points in the final 15 minutes of the game.
The Runnin' Bulldogs led 34-24 at halftime and, after DePaul twice trimmed the lead to eight points, went on a 12-4 run to extend its margin to 53-37 on a follow dunk by Harper that further energized the Gardner-Webb bench with 12:57 to play. Landis answered a three-pointer by Blue Demons forward Moses Morgan with a trey of his own and a runner to put the 'Dogs up 58-40 with 10:59 left and hit another short jumper with 9:07 to play to answer a DePaul basket and put Gardner-Webb back in front by 16.
Hartley made a pair of free throws to give Gardner-Webb a 62-44 lead with 6:59 left and, after a Donnavan Kirk turnaround snapped a drought of nearly six minutes for DePaul, Jarvis Davis drilled a wing three-pointer late in the shot clock for Gardner-Webb's largest lead of the game, 65-46, with 4:42 left.
A 7-0 run by DePaul briefly gave the home crowd life, but Gardner-Webb kept its composure and used a pair of Hartley free throws and two Jerome Hill layups down the stretch to keep the Blue Demons at bay.
Gardner-Webb shot 41.9 percent for the game (26-of-62), made 7-of-19 three-point attempts (36.8 percent) and were solid at the free throw stripe (12-of-17, 70.6 percent). Against a full court pressure defense, the 'Dogs allowed just six fast break points for DePaul and managed tremendous poise throughout.
In addition to the double figures trio, Gardner-Webb got seven points from Hill in his first career start and six points from Onzie Branch. The Runnin' Bulldogs had just nine scholarship players dressed for Thursday's game, and seven were members of the freshman or sophomore class.
Point guard Tyler Strange was quietly brilliant, playing 33 minutes against the teeth of DePaul's pressure and dishing off four assists, pulling down five rebounds and making a pair of baskets. Strange was at his best in keeping Gardner-Webb patient offensively and getting the Runnin' Bulldogs into their offensive sets all evening.
In addition to his 20 points, Landis added four rebounds, four assists and three steals - committing just one turnover in 34 minutes. The Indianapolis, Ind., native knocked down 8-of-13 shots (4-of-7 from long range).
DePaul made 23-of-54 field goals Thursday night (42.6 percent), but only 2-of-13 from long range (15.4 percent). The Blue Demons were outrebounded badly on the offensive glass (18-9) and had only one player - Brandon Young (10 points) - join Melvin in double digits scoring.
Gardner-Webb will have little time to rest, as it travels to Iowa City, Iowa, for a Saturday tilt at Iowa as part of the of the 2012 Cancun Challenge. Tip for the Runnin' Bulldogs and Hawkeyes is set for 8:00 pm and will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network's digital platform.
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