Charleston So defeats Gardner-Webb 79-89
Charleston So's Late Surge Falls Short in 89-79 Win at Gardner-Webb
In a thrilling conference matchup, Charleston So (AWAY) erased a 12-point halftime deficit to secure an 89-79 victory over Gardner-Webb (HOME) on New Year's Eve. The visiting Cougars' late surge was led by A'lahn Sumler, who poured in 29 points and grabbed three rebounds.
At the break, Gardner-Webb held a slim 12-point lead, 46-34, thanks to NaVuan Peterson's 17 points on 3-5 three-point shooting. The Runnin' Bulldogs' bench had provided a boost, outscoring Charleston So's reserves 9-2 in the first half.
Gardner-Webb (HOME) Game Stats:
* Field Goals: 21/59 (36.0%)
* Free Throws: 29/33 (88.0%)
However, Charleston So adjusted its strategy in the second half, with Sumler and Jesse Hafemeister leading the charge. The Cougars outscored Gardner-Webb 55-33 in the third quarter to cut the deficit to three points at halftime.
In the fourth quarter, Charleston So took control, building a seven-point lead on two separate occasions before Gardner-Webb responded with a late surge of its own. With just over two minutes remaining, NaVuan Peterson hit a game-tying three-pointer to send the contest into overtime.
Trailing by one point in overtime, A'lahn Sumler scored six points in the final minute, including back-to-back three-pointers, to seal the win for Charleston So.
Key Stats
* A'lahn Sumler (Charleston So): 29 points, 4-7 three-point shooting
* NaVuan Peterson (Gardner-Webb): 17 points, 3-5 three-point shooting
The victory marked a significant comeback win for the visiting Cougars, who trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half. Charleston So's balanced offense and strong bench play proved too much for Gardner-Webb to handle.
Gardner-Webb (HOME) Game Stats:
* Rebounds: 35 (Off: 11, Def: 24)
* Assists: 10
* Turnovers: 10
Charleston So (AWAY) Game Stats:
* Field Goals: 29/57 (51.0%)
* Free Throws: 21/31 (68.0%)
The win improved Charleston So's conference record to 2-1, while Gardner-Webb dropped to 1-2. The Runnin' Bulldogs will look to bounce back from the loss when they host High Point on January 3rd.