Ferere nets career-high as Runnin’ Bulldogs stun USC Upstate

By Jacob Conley (@gwujake)

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — March Madness did not take long to descend on Johnson City.

Freshman Jamias Ferere hit a pair of free throws with 14 seconds left and came up with the game-sealing steal on the other end, as the No. 9 seed Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs stunned the No. 8 seed USC Upstate Spartans, 65-64, in the Big South tournament lid-lifter Wednesday.

Ferere, who finished the contest with a career-best 21 points and 12 rebounds, said his performance was a season in the making.

“This just did not happen tonight,” he said. “It came from the hours of work and practice. We stayed together and never gave up, even during the tough times this season, and it all paid off tonight.”

GWU (4-28) took an early lead on a three from Ace Talbert. After Upstate took a 6-3 lead, Spence Sims came off a screen to hit a three, tying the game at 6. The game remained tied at 10 at the first media timeout .

A pair of Gardner-Webb turnovers led to a 14-12 Spartan lead. By the time Isaiah Skinner and Karmani Gregory hit threes, Upstate led 22-13.  Farere scored four in a row and by the time Talbert hit his second triple of the game, GWU had cut the deficit to 27-24. Learic Davis answered with a trey for the Spartans, but not to be outdone, Sims canned another as Gardner-Webb closed to within 30-29 at halftime.

The teams traded baskets to open the second half, but a Sims three gave GWU a 36-35 lead with 15:55 left. After the media timeout, Jacob Hudson threw down a dunk and hit a floater as the game continued to go back and forth.

Gardner-Webb answered with a 6-0 run capped on a pair of free throws. By the time Farere converted a three-point play, GWU had its largest lead, at 54-47.  USC Upstate answered with a 9-0 run, regaining a 56-54 advantage.

Hudson grabbed a pair of big buckets in the paint to keep GWU in front 59-58 with 3:35 left. Carmelo Adkins and Gregory hit big threes for the Spartans to put them up 64-63, setting up the game’s final sequence.

STAYING THE COURSE: It’s no secret that the Runnin’ Bulldogs have struggled this season. They only have two Division I wins this season, both against the Spartans.

“People on the outside look at this team and see the record and make assumptions about this team,” GWU head coach Jeremy Luther said. “I love this team. They had every reason to quit, but they didn’t. They showed up to practice every day and gave 100 percent. Sometimes I didn’t want to come to practice but these guys never complained.”                                                                                                                                                                                                            

BRING ON THE PANTHERS: GWU’s reward for the dramatic win is a date with top seed High Point Friday at noon. The Panthers are 27-4, but their gaudy record does not intimidate the Runnin’ Bulldogs.

“This team has improved so much during the season.” Luther said. “The first time we played them, we lost by 55. The next time, we were only down by 12 at halftime. We are going to fight for 40 minutes and whether we win or lose, I am so proud of this team.”

Ferere may have put it best however, when he said, “it’s March. Why not?”

LEADING SCORERS: In addition to Farere’s career high, Jacob Hudson scored 15 points while Ace Talbert chipped in with 10. Spence Sims came off the bench to also notch double digits with 10 points.

For Upstate, Skinner led the team with a career-high 18 points in his final game for the Spartans.

UP NEXT: GWU will face a tough test when it takes on High Point on Friday in the Big South tournament quarterfinals. For Upstate, the Spartans’ season comes to a close with a 13-19 record.