Field Level Media
Dec 29, 2021
Jordan Sears, Lance Terry and Zion Williams scored 14 points apiece as Gardner-Webb took control early and cruised to a 77-60 victory over Georgia on Wednesday night in Athens, Ga.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (6-7) beat Georgia for the first time in five all-time meetings.
Sears, who scored 12 of his points in the first half, finished 5 of 9 from the floor, made two 3-pointers and handed out five assists. Terry shot 3 of 10 but all made seven of his free throws, while Williams finished 7 of 12 from the field and grabbed seven rebounds.
Kareem Reid added 11 points and Ludovic Dufeal pulled down 11 boards for the Runnin' Bulldogs, who shot 49.2 percent.
Braelen Bridges totaled 17 points and seven boards but had little help for Georgia (5-8), which shot 37.3 percent and missed 16 of 19 3-point tries. Kario Oquendo added 12 points and Noah Baumann chipped in 11 as Georgia fell for third time in four games and slipped to 5-5 at home, including defeats to Wofford, George Mason and East Tennessee State.
Gardner-Webb took the lead for good 2 1/2 minutes in and gradually pulled away.
The Runnin' Bulldogs took an 18-8 lead on Terry's three-point play with 13:43 left in the half. Gardner-Webb responded to Georgia getting within 29-21 by going on a 10-2 run to take a 16-point lead on a dunk by Williams with 5:11 to go before the break.
Gardner-Webb was up by 15 after Selden's jumper with 2:46 left and maintained a 44-31 lead by halftime.
Georgia ripped off nine straight points to get within 49-42 on a layup by Bridges with 16:01 remaining but went cold as the Runnin' Bulldogs surged forward again. The Bulldogs missed 13 of 14 shots and Gardner-Webb opened a 68-47 edge on two free throws by Terry with 8:01 to play.
The Runnin' Bulldogs took their first 20-point lead when a 3-pointer by D'Maurian Williams made it 71-51 with 5:51 remaining.
--Field Level Media