Davidson’s Jack Gibbs dazzles with 41 points while alum Stephen Curry watches
It was fitting Tuesday that, perhaps, the only man on the planet who could relate to being as hot as Davidson guard Jack Gibbs was in attendance watching the junior guard put on a show.
Nothing like having the game of your life when you’re hoping to make a big impression.
Davidson alum Stephen Curry, the reigning NBA MVP, has been a showstopper to open the NBA season just the way Gibbs was in a 109-74 rout of Charlotte. Gibbs seemingly couldn’t miss. In fact, he made his first 14 field goal attempts to score 41 points with Curry watching on a night off. Curry and his Golden State teammates are in town for a meeting with the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday.
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Gibbs perfromance was reminiscent of some of Curry’s outings during his career in a Wildcats uniform but even more comparable to some of the torrid streaks he has enjoyed as Golden State has reeled off 19 consecutive wins to start the NBA season.
“Sometimes a shooter gets in a zone and with Baryshnikov in the stands there, Jack had a little bit of inspiration,” Davidson coach Bob McKillop told the Charlotte Observer and other media outlets. “The players knew he was there. That kind of inspiration can be magical.”
Gibbs, a product of Westerville, Ohio, made six 3-pointers in his 14-shot streak. He finished the night with a line that belied the awesomeness. He went 14-for-17 with 41 points, including making six of seven from behind the arc and seven of nine at the free throw line. He also had three assists and two steals in just 29 minutes on the floor.
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The game was originally scheduled to be played Wednesday but Charlotte coach Mark Price agreed to reschedule it to avoid a conflict for area fans with the NBA game. Doing so might have backfired on Price because the Wildcats played with a sense or purpose with their most famous basketball alum on hand.
When it was over, Gibbs received a hearty handshake and pat on the back from Curry.
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[Kyle Ringo is the assistant editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @KyleRingo