MONCTON, New Brunswick – The Gardner-Webb University men's basketball team finished up play in the Atlantic Slam on Sunday afternoon falling in overtime to Yale University 71-70. The 'Dawgs came back from an early disadvantage to force overtime ultimately coming up just short in the contest.

"Tough to lose this one, because it was one of those games you felt like we deserved to win.", said coach Craft. "Bad start but outstanding resiliency to battle back to take the lead. Yale, was picked to win the Ivy and we had the ball twice with a chance to win. Disappointed in the loss, but I really feel good about this team coming out of this five-game stretch.
 
Yale got things going early on opening the game with a 22-7 run. Quest Aldridge put in an early three-pointer to try to cut into the lead for GWU. Gardner-Webb stepped up their defense once Yale hit 24 points, and as a team began to close the gap to 24-15 thanks to Julien Soumaoro, Isaiah Richards, Lucas Stieber, and Brendan Mykalcio. Yale kept their cushion in the first half with Shahar Lazar adding free throws and a layup before halftime. Yale led at the break 36-23.
 
Both teams came out scoring early in the second half. Julien Soumaoro and Caleb Robinson were able to take advantage as the Runnin' Bulldogs began to show their grit cutting the lead to 43-35 in favor of Yale by the 15:43 minute mark. Stieber and Aldridge were able to help close the Yale lead to just five points by 14:12. Yale's Danny Wolf and Bez Mbeng extended the lead over the next three minutes. GWU was able to cut the lead to just three for Yale 54-51 with 7:43 left to play. Gardner-Webb's Isaiah Richards and Caleb Robinson assisted with key buckets in transition. Yale continued to extend the lead with each possession down the stretch with Gardner-Webb fighting back each time. With three minutes left in the ballgame DQ Nicholas laid it in drawing the foul making the and-one to tie the game 63-63. The game was tied at 65 then 67 by the end of regulation.
 
The five-minute overtime period saw both teams put up shots within the paint. Richards and Nicholas made a pair of shots for Gardner-Webb, but it was ultimately Yale that came out on top 71-70 thanks to a layup by Danny Wolf. The Runnin' Bulldogs were unable to convert in their final possession.

"The Atlantic Slam was a first-class event with great competition." Added coach Craft. "It was an elite experience for our players, playing in a big-time facility and a great crowd every night. The community of Moncton really supported this even and it made for a really unique tournament."
 
NOTABLES
Following play in the Atlantic Slam, GWU is 6-4 in games outside of the United States or in the surrounding territories all-time. Junior forward Isaiah Richards led the way for The 'Dawgs against Yale scoring a team leading 18 points. He went 9-10 from the floor and also pulled in six rebounds. Julien Soumaoro kept the hot hand dropping 17 points. Over three games he put up 48 points for the Runnin' Bulldogs north of the border, and was named to the Atlantic Slam all-tournament team. He leads the team with 70 points thus far. Lucas Stieber also contributed with eight points of his own and six assists. Quest Aldridge was right behind him in scoring with seven.

UP NEXT
The Runnin' Bulldogs will return to Paul Porter Arena on Saturday, Nov. 25 for a 1:00 p.m. tip off against Limestone University. They will travel to take on Queens the following Wednesday Nov. 29 at 7:00 p.m.