CLINTON, SC – Gardner-Webb forced overtime at Presbyterian and came away with a 79-78 win in overtime. DQ Nicholas tied the game with 12 seconds left in regulation off an add-one while back-to-back threes by Julien Soumaoro in overtime provided GWU the go-ahead buckets for the lead and win.
Presbyterian took a 35-30 lead into halftime after shooting 11-20 (55%) from the floor, converting seven shots from deep, and a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line.
The Blue Hose led for the final 26 minutes of regulation with the ‘Dogs tying it twice, the first with 16 minutes to play and 12 seconds. They were able to stretch their lead to as many as eight multiple times during the period.
With two minutes left to play, Presbyterian extended their lead back to five as Jalen Forrest hit the Hosers’ ninth three-pointer of the evening. The Runnin’ Bulldogs held PC scoreless after that bucket as they missed on their three shots with Louis Dufeal and Nicholas each recording a block.
Presbyterian converted their first attempt of overtime on a hook shot by Marquis Barnett to gain the quick advantage. The teams traded points as GWU’s Nicholas made three free throws to keep the ‘Dogs close.
After PC’s Owen McCormack put the team up 73-70, Soumaoro cashed in on shots from downtown to swing the three-point deficit into a 76-73 Gardner-Webb lead. After the made basket, this was GWU’s first lead in over 28 minutes of action.
On the following possessions for the Blue Hose, Nicholas had his third steal of the night and Dufeal had his fifth block of the night, each tying their season highs in the category. Lucas Stieber converted a layup with 38 seconds to play, pushing the GWU edge to five.
In the closing seconds of the overtime, Presbyterian closed the gap to 79-76 and had a potential game-tying three-pointer by Barnett miss. Kobe Stewart gained the board and hit the put-back layup to have their comeback attempt fall short.
Gardner-Webb put four players in double figures with Nicholas and Soumaoro each finishing with season-highs. Nicholas was 20 while Soumaoro was 18. Anthony Selden and Steeber each had 11.
Dufeal pulled down 11 rebounds for the game high as Nicholas and Kareem Reid each had six Nicholas led all players with seven assists with Soumaoro right behind with six for a career high.
Gardner-Webb finished the game shooting 50% from the floor (29-58) and behind the arc (12-24) while struggling at the free throw line going 9-21 (42.9%). PC had two players score 20+ as Stewart had 22 in 27 minutes of action and Forrest finished with 20. Barnett went a perfect 7-7 on shooting and 4-4 from deep, his lone miss of the evening was from the charity stripe as he converted four of his five shots.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs had a +7 margin in rebounds (34-27) with 10 of GWU’s coming off the offensive glass.
Gardner-Webb’s next game will be a redoubt as they host UNC Asheville (3-1) on Saturday, January 11 with a tipoff at 2:00 pm in another important matchup against a Big South foe.