Postgame Interview with Tim Craft

ATHENS, Ga. – Gardner-Webb led for all but 67 seconds on Wednesday night and the Runnin' Bulldogs routed Georgia by 17 points on its home floor of Stegemen Coliseum, 77-60.  
 
The win for Gardner-Webb (6-7) is its first over a Power-5 program since defeating Wake Forest three years ago to the day. It also marks GWU's first victory over an SEC team since the 'Dogs defeated No. 20 Kentucky over 14 years ago on November 7, 2007.
 
A Lance Terry 3-pointer 2:30 into the game put Gardner-Webb ahead by two, 6-4, and the Runnin' Bulldogs never trailed again as GWU increased its lead over Georgia (5-8) to 13 points at halftime and as many as 21 points in the second half prior to closing out a 17-point victory to cap off its largest win over a Power-5 opponent in program history.

Gardner-Webb's defense, which entered the night ranked first in the Big South in opponent field-goal percentage, once again shined as the 'Dogs held Georgia to 37.3% (22-of-59) shooting from the field and just 15.8% (3-of-19) from 3-point land. 
 
Terry, Zion Williams and Jordan Sears all finished with 14 points for Gardner-Webb, who as a team shot a blistering 49.2% (29-of-59) from the floor while going a perfect 12-of-12 from the free throw line to help register its first road win of the season.
 
Kareem Reid added 11 points, and Anthony Selden and D'Maurian Williams each tacked on nine apiece, while Ludovic Dufeal grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds and dished out a career-high six assists.
 
The 14 points on 7-of-12 shooting for Zion Williams matched a career high, and the Maybrook, New York native finished three rebounds shy of a double-double while also recording a game-high three steals.  

"I don't think you ever expect that, to go on the road to a SEC program and lead by 21," said Gardner-Webb head coach Tim Craft. "But, just proud of our guys, they had great fight, great effort tonight. This was a definition of a team win tonight, I thought. So proud of our guys for kind of hanging in there and to keep battling to finally pull one out here on the road. It's our first road win, and I'm so proud of the team." 
 
It took just over six minutes for Gardner-Webb to jump out to its first double-digit advantage as Terry drew contact and threw down a two-handed slam before completing a three-point play to make it an 18-8 game early on. A Zion Williams right-handed tomahawk jam for the third consecutive game ultimately boosted GWU to a 16-point lead with 5:11 to play in the opening frame, 39-23, while the 'Dogs went on to maintain a comfortable 44-31 edge at the break.
 
Following its 44-point outburst in the first half – the most points scored by Gardner-Webb in an opening half on the road this season – GWU picked right up where they left off for the second half. The Runnin' Bulldogs then gave up only 10 buckets over the final 20 minutes of play, including zero 3-pointers as Georgia never came closer to within seven with 16:01 remaining.
 
After UGA managed to cut its deficit to single digits, D'Maurian Williams immediately answered with one of his three triples on the night to kickstart a 13-2 run to increase the GWU lead back to 18 points, 64-46, with 9:06 left. The advantage would then grow all the way to 21 with a Reid layup four minutes later before the 'Dogs began to cruise towards the finish line with a hefty lead.
 
With a signature win now in its pocket, Gardner-Webb will enjoy another week off in between games before returning to the hardwood for the start of Big South Conference action on January 5 against Charleston Southern. The league opener against Buccaneers is slated for a 7 p.m. on the road in Charleston, S.C.