BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Grayson Flittner and Thomas Sanders combined for 49 points, and Gardner-Webb hammered North Greenville 99-74 for its first 3-0 start as a member of NCAA Division I.

The last time GWU started a season 3-0 was in its final year of Division II competition (1999-2000).

The Runnin' Bulldogs (3-0) shook off a cold start Tuesday night, and used a fast-paced approach on offense to pull away. GWU led by 20 or more points for nearly the entire second half, going on a 20-4 run in that period's early going to put the game away.

Playing a long bench in preparation for a stretch of three games in three days starting Thursday, Gardner-Webb saw 10 players log at least 15 minutes on the floor – and saw all 12 players who dressed collect minutes in the game.

The Runnin' Bulldogs outscored North Greenville (0-2) by a 34-2 margin in fast break points, and nailed a season-high 14 three-point baskets (37 attempts). Flittner scored a career-high 25 points on 7-of-13 shooting from long distance, and Sanders added 24 points and 11 rebounds on 8-of-11 shooting from the floor. Both played sparingly in the second half.

No other GWU player notched double figures, but 11 different players scored – with Takayo Siddle (nine points, six assists), Aaron Linn (eight points, six rebounds, five assists), Dillon Boggs (eight points) and Auryn MacMillan (seven points, seven rebounds) each chipping in for a balanced effort.

Gardner-Webb shot 45.3 percent for the game, but was a frigid 17-of-30 from the charity stripe (56.7 percent), preventing the margin of victory from reaching a higher level. The Runnin' Bulldogs did take good care of the basketball, turning it over just 10 times.

The Bulldogs' defense, which has been stellar through its early season run, continued to smother and stifle Tuesday night. North Greenville shot just 36.2 percent from the floor, with its starting backcourt going a combined 6-of-24 from the field (2-of-13 from three). GWU forced 20 turnovers, picked off 17 steals and swatted away seven shots in the game.

Through its three wins, Gardner-Webb has limited its opposition to just 35.6 percent from the floor and only 27.9 percent from long distance (17-of-61). GWU has also forced 59 turnovers and is averaging 10.1 steals per game.

The Runnin' Bulldogs will have little time to rest, as they board a plane for New York City on Wednesday morning. GWU will then face two-time national champion Connecticut at 7 pm ET on Thursday in the semifinals of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic in Madison Square Garden.

The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2, with Dan Shulman and Dick Vitale providing the call. WGWG-FM (88.3) will also air the game locally.