Box Score The Blue Hose cut a double-digit lead to just five twice in the final 30 seconds but the Runnin' Bulldogs hit clutch free throws on each occasion to quell the rally, as Gardner-Webb survived for a 59-53 win over the Presbyterian College men's basketball team in Big South men's basketball action Thursday at Paul Porter Arena.
Rayshon Harrison led PC with 20 points and nine rebounds.
Scoring the Game
Neither team was hot offensively in the first half, with field goal percentages under 20% for much of the opening 20 minutes. Gardner-Webb led 11-2 with 12:20 on the clock, the only PC basket a layup by
Brandon Younger at 17:03. The Runnin' Bulldogs hit a dry spell the next six minutes, with the Blue Hose taking advantage with a 7-0 run to cut the margin to two, 9-11, 6:27 to go. An Anthony Selden basket at 5:53 ended the GWU drought. The firs three-pointer of the game by any team came from PC's
Kirshon Thrash at 4:25, to make it a one-point game, 12-13. The Runnin' Bulldogs responded with 11 unanswered, which included eight free throws, to build a 12-point, 24-12 lead, 1:35 remaining.
Rayshon Harrison hit two free throws at the 23 second mark but Jordan Sears' jumper in the closing seconds gave the home team a 12-point, 26-14 lead at intermission.
No one scored the opening two minutes of the second half until
Owen McCormack's basket at 17:51 cut GWU's lead to 10. The home team scored seven over the next three-and-a-half minutes to build a 17-point, 33-16 lead. Ahead by 15 just over 14 minutes to play, D'maurian Williams hit a three-pointer to give Gardnere-Webb its largest lead of the game to that point. Harrison came back with a three of his own on the next possession but the home team answered with another three by Williams at 12:24. Jamaine Mann gave GWU a 20-point lead, 41-21, 10:35 on the clock. PC cut the lead to 15 two minutes later with a three from Younger and jumpers from
Trevon Reddish and Harrison.
Trailing by 14, with 6:22 remaining, the Blue Hose went on an 8-2 run to cut the margin to single digits, 36-44, 3:48 left. It was part of a 15-3 run since PC trailed by 20, 10:35 on the clock. The single digit margin was short-lived with GWU hitting two free throws and a three-pointer to take the lead to 13, 49-36, 3:06 to go. After Younger's three at 2:44 cut the lead back down to 10, Harrison's jumper 40 seconds later made it an eight-point game again. An eight-point game again with just over 10 seconds to play, Harrison hit his third three-pointer of the game to cut the margin to five before a free throw by Jaheam Cornwall gave Gardner-Webb its six-point, 59-53 win.
Players of the Game
Rayshon Harrison scored 16 of his team-leading 20 points in the second half, while
Winston Hill posted 11 of his 13 in the final 20 minutes as well. Harrison and Hill each led the team with nine rebounds apiece. Jamaine Mann led Gardner-Webb with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Stats of the Game
There were a combined 20 turnovers in the first half, as well as 27 defensive rebounds to only 12 offensive boards leading to limited second chance opportunities. Both teams shot in the 20s or below much of the first half, with PC hitting five-of-27 for 18.5%, and GWU going seven-of-22, for 31.8%. The Runnin' Bulldogs posted 11 free throws in the first half, compared to only three for PC.
The shot an improved 38.7 % in the second half to finish with 29.3% from the field., while Gardner-Webb shot 31.3%. GWU went 25-of-33 from the charity stripe, compared to 13-of-17 for PC. Rebounds were fairly even with PC holding the slight 40-39 advantage. Turnovers evened out in the second half, with the Blue Hose recording 16, to Gardner-Webb's 15.
For the Record
PC moves to 5-10 overall, 3-8 in the league, while Gardner-Webb improves to 8-11, 6-7.
Up Next
PC and Gardner-Webb face each other in the final contest of the two-game series Friday, Feb. 5. Tip was originally scheduled for 8 pm but will now start at 7 pm. The game can be seen live on ESPN+ and on the radio at WPCC.
How to follow
Fans can follow at www.GoBlueHose.com, and @BlueHoseHoops.
