Rally Falls Short For Runnin' Bulldogs In 58-49 Loss At Georgia
December 19, 2013 | Men's Basketball
The Runnin' Bulldogs (6-7) clamped down on the defensive end all game against Georgia (5-4), but couldn't get over the hump down the stretch. GWU trailed 38-37 with 6:32 to play after Naji Hibbert finished off a 3-point play at the free throw line - capping a 6-0 run by the visitors to tighten the game.
Isaiah Ivey blocked a driving shot on Georgia's next possession, and Onzie Branch sliced into the lane for a layup attempt - but the ball rattled off the rim. Tyler Strange fought for the loose ball rebound, and Hibbert got into the lane for another close attempt, but the shot would not fall.
Georgia got a fortuitous bounce on a driving layup from Charles Mann with 5:13 to play to go up 40-37, and a free throw on the same play gave the Bulldogs a four-point advantage. Juwan Parker gave Georgia a 44-37 lead on another driving layup and free throw sequence - before Hibbert pulled Gardner-Webb back within six points with 2:55 to play on a driving layup.
Georgia took advantage at the free throw line in the final two minutes - making 11 charity shots down the stretch to close out the game.
Early on the game proved a struggle for both teams in the scoring column.
Gardner-Webb had a tough opening half on the offensive end, shooting just 27.3 percent (6-of-22) to trail 21-12 at the break. The Runnin' Bulldogs took an early 4-0 lead in a slow start for both teams. Neither team scored until Jerome Hill banked in a 19-footer with 17:16 to play in the half - and Tyrell Nelson put GWU up 4-0 with 15:29 to play on a 15-foot jumper.
Georgia finally scratched with 15:12 to play and went on an 8-0 run to take the lead for the rest of the half. Neither team made much of a push, and Hibbert drained a jumper with 2:46 left to pull Gardner-Webb within two points at 14-12.
Georgia scored the half's final seven points, with Nemanja Djurisic draining a 3-pointer and getting a follow shot to get that started. Mann's tip-in with 44.3 seconds left before the break provided the halftime score.
Hibbert led Gardner-Webb scoring on the day with 14 points and Strange added 10 points and five assists. The 'Dogs shot just 31.5 percent in the game (17-of-54), 26.3 percent from 3-point range (5-of-19) and 55.6 percent from the free throw line (10-of-18).
The Runnin' Bulldogs did take advantage of 19 Georgia turnovers, holding a 19-7 edge in points off of turnovers over 40 minutes.
Georgia had a sizeable edge on the backboards, outrebounding Gardner-Webb 46-27, scoring 30 points in the paint and 12 second-chance points. Parker led the host Bulldogs with 12 points and Marcus Thornton added 11. Georgia shot just 38.3 percent for the game (18-of-47), 30.0 percent (3-of-10) and 76.0 percent at the free throw line (19-of-25).
Gardner-Webb will play at home Saturday afternoon, hosting Hiwassee (Tenn.) at 1:00 pm in Paul Porter Arena. That game will air live on WGWG-FM (88.3 / wgwg.org) and the Big South Network.
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