The Mocs are trying to get back to .500 and need to desperately find a way to come up with a win. They have to beat this Gardner-Webb team to get back to .500 overall, even if one of them is against a non-D1.
Gardner-Webb lacks a lot of height. Mike Byron has blocked 1.2 shots per game, and has 4.3 rebounds per game. He is the only player that plays over 6-6.
The Runnin' Bulldogs best scorers are both under 6-1. Max Landis averages 13.2 points per game. Jason Dawson is averaging 12.5 points per game. Dawson is shooting 47% from three point range, while Landis is shooting 44% from three. Stefon Johnson leads the team in rebounding with 5.0 rebounds per game.
Savannah State outrebounded the Runnin' Bulldogs by just three, compared to fourteen over the Mocs. They shot 62% from the field against Gardner-Webb, which is an unbelievable shooting night. The Mocs defense did a better job against the Tigers, but did not control their shooting really well.
The Mocs will need to continue with their defensive intensity that they showed in the final ten minutes against Savannah State. They will also need to rebound well. The Mocs need to get going offensively against this average Gardner-Webb defense, but they have not done it yet.
Gardner-Webb has lost four games in the last week, to South Carolina State, Indiana, Butler, and Savannah State. Only one of those was by more than six points, when they lost to Indiana by 24. They lost to Butler by just two points.
KEYS TO THE GAME
--The Mocs were dominated on the boards by Savannah State. They must rebound better against Gardner-Webb if they are going to find a way to win.
--Tired legs. Gardner-Webb will have played 20 hours before tip off. The Mocs will have played 42 hours before tip off. Who has the fresher legs? Who can bring more energy?
--Getting some shooters going. The Mocs have not been able to get their shooters going. Someone needs to get hot- and stay hot. Chris Early and Keegan Bell both shot reasonably well against the Tigers on Friday night. They need to maintain their hot shooting, and hope someone else gets hot as well. Omar Wattad or Ricky Taylor need to get hot.
--Drazen Zlovaric vs. Mike Byron. Byron has the height advantage, but Zlovaric is slightly more skilled offensively at this point. How those two match-up could easily define this game.
LEAD PIPE LOCK PREDICTIONS THAT ARE SURE TO GO WRONG
--The Mocs will not shoot over 80% from the floor, as Savannah State did in the second half against Gardner-Webb on Saturday afternoon.
--The Runnin' Bulldogs will get off to a hot start and put a real scare into the Mocs fans that are at the game.
--Wattad will find the range a little bit in this one, while Bell and Early will struggle with their shooting.
--Taylor will not find himself yet.
--Zlovaric will score his points, but Byron will play his game as well.
--Mocs 61, Gardner-Webb 58. This game will be very close. The Runnin' Bulldogs may have lost four straight, but they are not playing poorly. The Mocs desperately need to win this game, and will come up with a way to pull it out. Count on Wattad to make a big shot down the stretch that pulls it out.
GO MOCS!
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