Basketball: Gardner-Webb @ Wichita State (Post-Game)

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If there was ever a night when the Shockers needed a win, tonight was the night and they passed with flying colors. Guards, Toure' Murry and Reggie Chamberlin we're money from behind the arc at the start of the game leading the Shox for 7 first-half threes. Murry, who scored 13 points in the first half, filled his stat sheet well tonight dishing 6 assists, grabbing 4 boards, and picking off 3 steals. JT Durley also showed upside tonight with his first double-figure scoring effort with 12 points and 8 rebounds.

Perhaps the biggest stat of the night though was G-W shooting just 11.8% from behind the arc on 2 of 17. Hannah and Chamberlin guarded Bulldog star Grayson Flittner as if he was the next president, holding him to 7 points on the night. The Bulldogs got their scoring from Auryn MacMillen (17) and Aaron Linn (17), which was expected. The Shox also continued their domination on the boards, winning that total by 7.

But how about the Shockers trying a few dunks tonight!? A few minutes into the game Hannah caught AJ running the sideline for what looked like a taylormade alley-oop, it didn't work out but AJ hit a three later in the possession. Perhaps the oddest play of the night came with 6 minutes left. Hannah stole the ball from Takayo Siddle at mid-court, dove on the floor, passed to Stutz who galloped his way to a 2-handled slam sending the crowd into a frenzy. Mantas also dunked later in the game.

The Shox just looked rejuvenated tonight with guards penetrating and big guys posting up around the lane. Durley scored in double-figures, Murry drove and created shots along with making his own, Hannah showed great leadership in the second half, and Chamberlin made key shots but most importantly held Flittner to just 7 points on 1 of 9 from the field. Mantas Griskenas put in his best performance of the year with 4 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal. The Shox also recorded a season high 5 blocks on the night. All in all player of the game tonight goes to Toure' Murry. He didn't look like a freshman at all tonight and showed great potential and leadership.

If anything you can at least come away knowing tonight that we can actually make threes, nice to know. Durley can actually play defense and score efficiently. Mantas may possibly be a factor come Valley time and our guards look to be maturing really fast. Tonight was definitely a breath of fresh air and I will look forward to seeing this team in action next Saturday, hopefully the Shox will pick up 2 more wins and then it's off to Creighton

Great game tonight Shox!
Thanks for reading
-shockers02