AUDIO – Postgame Interview with Coach Craft
 
LEXINGTON, Va. – A game-tying 3-pointer from D'Maurian Williams rimmed out at the final buzzer as Gardner-Webb dropped a heartbreaker on the road to VMI on Saturday, 64-61.
 
Two Williams free throws gave the Runnin' Bulldogs (4-6) a 61-60 lead with 29 seconds remaining. The Keydets (7-4) then answered with a layup on its next possession to retake a one-point advantage before adding a pair of free throws with two ticks remaining to make it a three-point game, 64-61. Down to its last shot, a final Williams heave from just inside half court drew iron, but rimmed out, allowing VMI to escape victorious over the 'Dogs in a thrilling matchup inside Cameron Hall.
 
The back-and-forth affair featured 13 lead changes and five ties, with neither team ever leading by more than eight at any point throughout the contest.
 
Gardner-Webb held a lead for a total of 16:19, including down the stretch as a 10-0 run boosted the visitors to a 56-50 lead with 6:17 to go. The 'Dogs maintained that lead until a put-back lay-in from Jake Stephens (28 points, 16 rebounds) gave VMI a 60-59 edge with 42 seconds to play prior to Williams' two makes from the charity stripe for GWU with just under half a minute to play.
 
Putting forth yet another solid performance on defense, the Runnin' Bulldogs held a VMI team that entered the day with the second-most 3-pointers in the nation to just 7-of-29 (24.1%) shooting from downtown and 22-of-62 (35.5%) from the field overall. The seven 3-pointers are tied for the least number of makes from beyond the arc for the Keydets this season.
 
"I think our defense was really good all night," said Gardner-Webb head coach Tim Craft. "I thought this was a tough environment against a good team, and I thought our players had a ton of toughness and a great mindset in terms of staying in it. We talked about how this is going to be a game where we have to stay with it. We stayed together and kept fighting and kept competing."
 
After a fast start in which saw GWU score 27 points in the first 11 minutes, the Runnin' Bulldogs struggled to execute offensively. Despite hoisting a season-high 73 shots – 11 more than any game this season – the 'Dogs hit on just 22 attempts for the game (30.1%) while going 4-of-23 (18.2%) from distance.
 
"I think the positive was just our overall fight and toughness," continued Craft. "All the things from an intangible standpoint that you need to win a basketball game, we did tonight. I would say that I wish we guarded (Jake) Stephens a little better, but really for us it came down to offensive finishes – the ability to finish plays offensively. We just had one of those nights. I love the fact that we had those intangible qualities that you need to win on the road, but we just need to play better and more confidently offensively."
 
Lance Terry posted another big first half on his way to a team-high 16 points to go along with a career-high seven rebounds. Williams finished with 15 points – 11 in the second half – and Ludovic Dufeal grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds, seven of which came on the offensive glass.
 
Gardner-Webb led by as many as eight points in the first half before the Keydets charged back to take a 36-34 lead at the half. While both teams went cold following the break – GWU shot 9-of-34 and 0-8 from downtown in the second half to VMI's 10-of-33 shooting and 4-of-15 mark from long range – the Runnin' Bulldogs used eight forced turnovers over the final frame to claw their way back from a 48-40 deficit with 12:48 to play.
 
"It really hurts. It stings," concluded Craft. "I think at the end of the day, a lot of the things that we needed to do to win tonight, we did. I like the character in terms of being able to withstand the ups and downs of the season and continue to get better. That's why I think we have a good chance to be really good when we get into February, but we have to get in the gym, work on our games, get a lot of shots up and get our skill development up."
 
Now 10 games into the season, Gardner-Webb will turn to its next opponent in North Carolina Central looking to snap its three-game skid and pick up its first road win of the year. Tipoff against the Eagles – who GWU beat by 25 on November 29 – is set for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 15 in Durham, N.C.