Newspapers / Gardner-Webb University Student Newspaper / Jan. 31, 1997, edition 1 / Page 4
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• The Pilot/]an. 31 Page 4 Gardner-Webb Sports Men’s basketball team looking to contend for SAC title by B.J. Johnson staff writer I'he Gardner-Webb University men's basketball team has been on a roll lately, winning four of their last five games, with their only loss coming to nationally ranked Lynn University. GWU sits in a tie with Carson- Newman for second place in the South Atlantic Conference with a 4-2 conference record and is 12-4 overall. With four consecutive conference wins over Lenoir-Rhyne, Mars Hill, Elon and Wingate, the Bulldogs are making a run at Presbyterian College, who is 7-0 in the conference. GWU leads the conference in free throw percentage at 74 percent and three pointers made with 129. In the Bulldogs latest victory, a 101-79 embarrassment of Wingate, Travis Sensabaugh scored a career-high 31 points, including seven three-pointers. Senior point guard, Marvin "Bo" Graves, was amazing as he dished out 11 assists without a turnover and freshman Corey Rodgers scored a career-high 12 points. Many players are contributing to the Bulldogs' success. Willis Johnson is tearing up the SAC while leading the GWU team in scoring with 18.6 points per contest. The senior from Charleston, S.C. is currently second in the conference in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots. Johnson is also in the top ten in steals, free throw percentage and field goal percentage. Graves leads the league in assists with 6.3 a game and is among the league leaders in steals. Matt Cates is second on the team in scoring with 13.6 points per game and is the SAC's best free throw shooter at 87%. Sensabaugh set a school record and tied a conference record as he hit nine three-pointers against Elon. Head coach Rick Scruggs reached a huge milestone this season as he notched his 200th career victory with a 95-61 win at Johnson & Wales on Dec. 14. A modest Scruggs said, "With the company I'm in, it's embarrassing. I don't deserve to be in this category." GWU has lost only twice in the friendly confines of Paul Porter Arena and will play four of their last five at home including three conference games. The SAC Tournament is also at Gardner-Webb this season so the Bulldogs have their hopes set high for a league crown and in the words of Scruggs, "bringing back the winning tradition established under Coach Eddie Holbrook." Men's Home Basketball Games During February: Feb.l Catawba Feb. 14 Johnson-Wales Feb. 3 Limestone Feb. 19 Elon Feb. 5 Carson-N ewman Feb. 22 Wingate Feb. 12 Lenoir-Rhyne Feb. 25-March 1 SAC Tourney @ GWU G-W's Willis Johnson battles for a rebound in a recent game against Lenior-Rhyne. (Photo by Karen Brower) Gardner-Webb wrestlers continue to improve in *97 by Randy Capps co-editor The Gardner-Webb wrestling team is having a monumental season in 1997. Although the team's dual-meet record is a modest 5-5, the team has traveled to Florida, Pennsylvania and Indiana to face some of the nation's finest wrestling teams. In fact, three of the five losses have been to nationally ranked programs. One of the high points of this campaign for the Runnin' Bulldogs was their first-ever victory over Carson-Newman. Earlier this season, the Eagles defeated GWU in a dual meet. The Runnin' Bulldogs were missing several key starters in that match. In their second meeting at a neutral site in Hendersonville, N.C., both teams were at full strength.' GWU won this meeting easily, 23-11, and while beating Carson-Newman was important. Coach Dick Wince felt it was just a stepping stone to better things for the program. "We got the Carson-Newman mystique out of the way and this is just another step towards maturity and a national ranking," Wince said. It usually takes a team effort to be successful, and this team is no exception. Chris Austin, Garry Eller and James Short have provided solid leadership for GWU this year, but it has been a group effort that has brought the Bulldogs to this level. "There isn't anyone in the program that I'm disappointed in. Everyone has worked hard and everyone does their part," Wince said. With NCAA Division II Regionals just a few weeks away, the Gardner-Webb wrestling team hopes that their brutal non-conference schedule and their teamwork translate to further success for the program. The Bulldogs will return to the mat on Feb. 5 when they travel to UNC-Pembroke. GWU will also compete in the Greyhound Classic on Feb. 7 in Indianapolis. Senior Chris Austin has his hand raised after victory in a recent match against Finley (Ohio). Austin is just one of the many reasons Gardner-Webb's wrestling program has reached new heights in '97. (Photo by Garry Eller)
Gardner-Webb University Student Newspaper
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Jan. 31, 1997, edition 1
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