Nov. 23, 2011
Box Score
By Dan Ryan
B-CUAthletics.com
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The part of Acting Head Coach Gravelle Craig's halftime talk that's suitable for publication basically was this: Don't even think about pulling up for an outside shot.
After a dismal shooting effort in the first half, the Wildcats sped up the tempo, forced turnovers and took the ball inside as they defeated Webber International 71-64 Wednesday afternoon in historic Moore Gymnasium.
Garrius Holloman doubled-doubled with 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Stanley Elliott matched his career-high of 15 points as the Wildcats (2-3) found a rhythm and erased a seven-point deficit.
B-CU's first-half shooting was, well, it was 23 percent from the field and 1-13 from 3-point range and looked as bad as the stat line suggests. Still, the Wildcats were down just 26-20.
“I told them I don't want another three,” Craig said. “I wanted to get to the basket and I wanted shots in the paint. Without a post presence [Anthony Breeze is still sidelined] we have to find a way to get those shots.”
The Wildcats did try – and made – two from behind the arc, but the offense came together as B-CU shot 60 percent from the field the final 20 minutes.
“We had to pick it up,” Elliott said. “We were too relaxed and we weren't playing our game.”
Elliott's lay-up with 10:49 remaining gave B-CU a 41-40 lead, erasing a 37-30 deficit. However, the senior picked up his fourth immediately afterward.
Adrien Coleman, who scored seven of his nine points in the second half, stepped in for Elliott and B-CU continued its roll.
The Wildcats had leads of 45-44 and 47-46 on Holloman jumpers, but Coleman's jumper with 8:32 left put B-CU up 49-48 and triggered a 13-0 run that made it 60-48 on another Coleman jumper with 5:48 remaining.
Webber (2-3) closed to 62-58 with 3:01 left, but six Ricky Johnson free throws kept the Warriors at bay.
Craig gave Johnson the start and fellow freshman Marc Mack significant minutes, and the rookies responded. Johnson ran the point well while Mack had 8 points and 11 rebounds.
“I've been finding ways to play them to get them ready for conference,” Craig said. “They'll make mistakes, but they'll compete. They probably were the difference tonight.”
Kevin Dukes had nine points for B-CU, which travels to Illinois State Sunday.
