THE GAME Gardner-Webb will return from a 12-day break to take on Delaware State at 7:00 pm in Dover, Delaware. The meeting is a return game for the Hornets visit to Boiling Springs for the now defunct ESPN BracketBusters series in 2012. Live stats for Thursday’s meeting will be available at DSUHornets.com. SERIES NOTES
Gardner-Webb holds a 1-0 lead in the series by virtue of a 57-56 win on February 18, 2012 in Boiling Springs ... Donta Harper knocked down two free throws with 10 seconds left to complete a comeback win for the Runnin’ Bulldogs ... Tashan Newsome led the squad with 13 points in a low-scoring affair ... GWU’s last meeting with a school from the MEAC came in Cancun, Mexico in November 2012 – a 10-point win over Howard at Moon Palace Resort.
THE COACHES
Gardner-Webb head coach Tim Craft is in his first season with the program and is off to a 7-7 start. Delaware State head coach Greg Jackson is 198-211 in his time with the Hornets, and 361-289 overall for his career.
GAME NOTES (PDF)
THE LOWS AND MIDS
In its six games against members of low-mid major conferences, Gardner-Webb has forged a solid 4-2 record that includes wins over IUPUI and Morehead State in Las Vegas. GWU is averaging 71.2 ppg in those six games, placing five men in double figures scoring. GWU is shooting 45.9 percent in those games from the floor and 71.1 percent from the free throw line. Naji Hibbert (13.6 ppg), Jerome Hill (12.5 ppg), Donta Harper (11.4 ppg), Tyrell Nelson (10.8 ppg) and Tyler Strange (10.5 ppg) are each averaging more than 10 points against low-mid major foes this season.
HIBBERT HAS HELPED
Transfer guard Naji Hibbert (6-5, 190, RSr.) has provided needed scoring punch in his first, and only, season with Gardner-Webb. A three-year performer at Texas A&M, Hibbert helped the Aggies to a pair of 24-win seasons and two NCAA Tournament appearances during his time in College Station. Hibbert is averaging a team-high 12.8 ppg for Gardner-Webb, and has topped the 20-point mark twice – both GWU wins.
OPPOSING TIDBITS
Delaware State has dropped five games in a row and is 2-10 so far this season against a brutally tough schedule ... The Hornets have played road games at Georgia Tech, Clemson, Dayton and Oklahoma State – and a total of seven games away from home ... DSU averages just 58.6 ppg as a team, but gets more than 10 ppg from center Kendall Gray (10.3 ppg), guard Kendal Williams (10.3 ppg), forward Casey Walker (10.3 ppg) and forward Tyshawn Bell (10.6 ppg).
DEFENDING THE ARC
Gardner-Webb ranks first in the Big South Conference and among the best in the nation (25th) in 3-point field goal defense through 14 games. GWU has allowed just 59 made 3-pointers in 209 attempts this season (28.2 percent), with its toughest defensive outing coming against one of the nation’s top shooting teams – 7th-ranked Duke (9-of-22 from 3-point range).
THAT’S STRANGE ...
Point guard Tyler Strange (5-10, 180, Jr.) has been exceptional for GWU this season, ranking 22nd nationally in assists per game (5.9 apg), 24th in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.19) and second in the Big South Conference with 2.1 steals per game. Strange ranks 13th nationally according to stats guru Kenneth Pomeroy in assist rate – currently assisting on 23.7 percent of Gardner-Webb’s made field goals so far in 2013-2014.
PRESEASON RESPECT
Gardner-Webb was picked second in the preseason South Division poll by the Big South Conference’s head coaches and select media members, falling just behind defending division and overall regular season champion Charleston Southern. GWU finished a game behind the Bucs last season, but picked up a pair of overtime wins over Charleston Southern during the regular season. GWU lost just twice against South Division teams last season, falling on the road at Winthrop and Presbyterian and finishing with a 8-2 mark against Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina, UNC Asheville, Winthrop and Presbyterian.
HILL CLIMBING
South Georgia native Jerome Hill (6-5, 210, So.) performed at his best at #7 Duke, matching up nicely on the offensive end against projected NBA Lottery pick Jabari Parker. Despite giving up three inches and nearly 30 pounds, Hill went to work for a career-high 22 points (9-of-10 shooting) and pulled down nine rebounds. Hill had another strong performance against Hiwassee (Tenn.), going for 19 points and a career-high 17 boards in a blowout win.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Gardner-Webb will play its eight true road game of the season Thursday night, and has won just once in its first seven games this season. GWU is 2-0 in neutral court games (Las Vegas Invitational). Five of Gardner-Webb’s six road losses this season have come to “high major” conference teams.
BIG SOUTH PLAY BEGINS SOON
Gardner-Webb will get into the meat of its most important season segment next week, hosting UNC Asheville (Jan. 8) and Coastal Carolina (Jan. 11) to open Big South Conference play in Paul Porter Arena. Gardner-Webb is one of only two teames (Winthrop) with a record of .500 or better heading into Thursday night’s action in the South Division. Asheville has won three in a row, however, and sits just behind those two at 6-7 overall – tied with Coastal Carolina’s .462 winning percentage (6-7). Both games next week will air live on the Big South Network and WGWG-FM (88.3).
COURTESY GARDNER-WEBB UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
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