Nov. 30, 2002
ATLANTA – Fresh off a victory over 17th-ranked Georgia Wednesday night, Georgia Tech goes for its third straight win Sunday against Gardner-Webb at 1 p.m. at Alexander Memorial Coliseum at McDonald’s Center.
The game will be regionally televised on Fox Sports Net South. The radio broadcast can be heard on the Georgia Tech-ISP Sports Network on Atlanta stations WQXI-AM (790) and WMGP-FM (98.1). Tickets are still available for the game and can be purchased at the Coliseum Sunday beginning at 11:30 a.m.
Tech (2-0) has opened its third season under head coach Paul Hewitt with a 38-point victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff last Saturday and an 83-77 win over 17th-ranked Georgia on Wednesday night. It was Tech’s ninth victory over a ranked team in Hewitt’s two-plus seasons. Against Gardner-Webb, Tech looks for its first 3-0 start since the 2000-01 season.
The Jackets have been sharp offensively, shooting better than 46 percent from the floor and 39 percent from three-point range, while outrebounding their two opponents by an average of 19 per game. Leading the charge has been 6-10 freshman Chris Bosh, who leads Tech in both scoring (20.5 points per game) and rebounding (12.5 per game).
Tech’s starting lineup for both games thus far has included 6-4 junior guard Marvin Lewis (19.0 points per game, 40 percent from three-point range), 6-6 sophomore Isma’il Muhammad (10.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game) and 6-8 sophomore forward Ed Nelson (8.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game). Freshman Jarrett Jack, a 6-3 point guard, is averaging 13.0 points and 7.0 assists and leads Tech in field goal percentage (58.3).
B.J. Elder, a 6-4 sophomore guard and a projected starter this season, missed Tech’s season opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff with a sore foot and did not start the Georgia game, but came off the bench to score 24 points (10-of-18 from the floor) against the Bulldogs. He provided the key three-point field goal that gave Tech the lead for good with 1:50 remaining in the game.
Off the bench, Tech has Elder, (unless he starts in place of Muhammad) and 6-7 sophomore Anthony McHenry at the wing positions, with McHenry capable of backing up Jack at the point. McHenry scored seven points with six rebounds and five assists against UAPB, and provided excellent defense off the bench against the Bulldogs. In the frontcourt, Tech has 7-1 sophomore Luke Schenscher, who has averaged 8.0 points and 4.5 rebounds and has shot 57.1 percent from the floor. Robert Brooks (2.0 points, 3.0 rebounds per game), a 6-8 junior, and 6-9 freshman Theodis Tarver (3.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg) provide quality depth along the front line.
Georgia Tech and Gardner-Webb are meeting for the first time in basketball. Tech has played 77 games, however, against members of the Bulldogs’ conference, the Atlantic Sun. Tech is 51-26 in games vs. Atlantic Sun foes, most of those games against Georgia State and Mercer. Tech will also host A-Sun member Troy State on Dec. 17.
Gardner-Webb starts 6-1 Eli Strait (9.0 points per game) and 6-5 Chris Wiggins (4.3) at the guards, 6-6 Otis Daniels (13.3) and 6-6 Brendan Clowry (4.0) at the forwards, and 6-11 Tim Behrendorff (16.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg) at center.
The Bulldogs, 23-9 a year ago, are 1-2 after dropping a 68-66 decision to Winthrop Wednesday night, but led Tennessee by 17 points in the first half and lost to the Volunteers by just two in their season opener. Gardner-Webb has three Australians on its roster (Clowry and Behrendorff start), and Tech has its own Luke Schenscher from Australia, which raises the possibility that four Aussie natives could be on the floor at the same time during Sunday’s game. Also on the Gardner-Webb roster is Kevin Cantwell, Jr., son of former Tech assistant coach Kevin Cantwell. Cantwell has not played in either of the Bulldogs’ first three games.
Following Sunday’s game, Tech plays three straight games away from home, Dec. 4 at Minnesota in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, Dec. 7 against Marist at Madison Square Garden, and Dec. 15 against Tennessee at Philips Arena.
