December 28, 2001
GARDNER-WEBB THUMPS FURMAN 81-65
TO WIN POINSETTIA CLASSIC
CHAMPIONSHIP
GREENVILLE -- Chas Criss scored a season high 25 points and teammate Bruce Fields added 16 points and a game high 17 rebounds to power Gardner-Webb to an 81-65 win over Furman in the championship game of the Greenville Children's Hospital Poinsettia Classic Saturday night at Timmons Arena.
Criss, the son of former NBA player Charlie Criss, drained 9-of-14 field goal attempts, including 4-of-4 3-pointers, and 3-of-4 free throws to pace Gardner Webb (9-4). The Bulldogs shot 49.1 percent from the field (28x57) and connected on 8-of-14 3-point attempts (57.1 percent).
Furman (7-4), which suffered its first home loss of the season, was led by Karim Souchu's 18 points.
Gardner-Webb trailed early in the contest, but a Criss 3-pointer and jump shot sparked an 11-0 run to give the Bulldogs a 26-15 lead midway through the first half.
Furman narrowed the defict to 40-34 following a short jumper by Souchu as time expired in the first half, but Gardner-Webb opened the second half with a five straight points to take a 45-34 lead following a pair of free throws by Otis Daniels with 17:36 remaining.
The Bulldogs never led by less than seven points the rest of the way.
Gardner-Webb dominated Furman on the boards 48-32 and benefited from poor 3-point shooting by the Paladins, who converted only 5-of-22 attempts (22.7 percent) from beyond the arc. Furman came into the contest shooting 43.2 percent from 3-point range.
Furman opens its Southern Conference schedule on Jan. 2 when it hosts Georgia Southern at Timmons Arena in a 7:00 p.m. game. Gardner-Webb plays next at Murray State on Jan. 5 at 8:00 p.m.