CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Gardner-Webb University men's basketball team dropped the first game of their three game road trip at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on Tuesday night by a final score of 69-66. Three different Runnin' Bulldogs tallied double-digits in a close game that saw the Mocs win the game on a buzzer beating half court three-pointer.
 
"Hard to lose this one.", said coach Craft. "I felt like we really played well in a lot of areas. We are growing and learning to play together and we took a step forward in that area tonight. Hats off to Chattanooga on making big shots down the stretch."

The Runnin' Bulldogs and Mocs went shot-per-shot to open the ballgame. Cheickna Sissoko led the charge out of the gate for the 'Dawgs with a slam and a layup in the first five minutes as they gained an early lead. Some great shooting by Julien Soumaoro built the lead to 19-11 by the 11:10 minute mark. Taku Youngblood quickly made his presence felt in the first half dishing a no look pass to Lucas Stieber to increase the lead to 24-11 just after 10 minutes to go. The Mocs rode nine first half points from Jan Zidek to cut into the Gardner-Webb lead by the end of the first half where the 'Dawgs led 34-26.
 
Chattanooga cut the lead to just three for Gardner-Webb in the first two minutes of the second half before the Runnin' Bulldogs got back to work starting with a three from Stieber. GWU went on an 8-0 run to take a 42-31 lead with 15:41 to play. Maintaining the lead, Quest Aldridge hit a corner three causing Chattanooga to call their final timeout of the game with 12:12 to play. Zidek continued to battle for the Mocs as the game was 55-45 in favor of the 'Dawgs with under eight to play. Chattanooga cut the lead to four by the final media timeout. Gardner-Webb threes coming from Soumaoro and Stieber. The final 20 seconds saw the Mocs take the lead before Caleb Robinson hit a driving layup to tie the game 66-66. Trey Bonham hit a halfcourt shot at the buzzer to win the game for the Mocs 69-66.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Three different 'Dawgs tallied double-digits in the game with Soumaoro dropping 17, Stieber netting 11, and Robinson scoring 10. Aldridge matched his season high with nine points, while DQ Nicholas tallied eight. Gardner-Webb shot over 41% from the floor and from beyond the arch and collected 39 rebounds.
 
UP NEXT
The Runnin' Bulldogs will continue their road trip later this week against the University of Akron on Thursday, Dec. 21 at 7:00 p.m.