Runnin' Bulldogs Host Clearwater Christian Saturday Night (7:00 PM)
December 13, 2013 | Men's Basketball
BOILING SPRINGS - Gardner-Webb returns to Paul Porter Arena Saturday night at 7:00 pm to host Clearwater Christian (Fla.) College.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (5-5) will be playing for the first time in a week, after breaking for final exams. GWU topped The Citadel on the road last Saturday in Charleston, S.C., 67-55. Saturday night's game will follow the Gardner-Webb women's tilt with Wofford College.
Saturday begins a busy seven-day stretch for Gardner-Webb. On Monday night, GWU travels to face No. 7 Duke at 7:00 pm (ESPNU) and will trek to Athens, Ga., for an 11:30 am game at Georgia on Thursday, December 19. The final game before Christmas will be on Saturday, December 21 at home vs. Hiwasee (Tenn.) at 1:00 pm in Paul Porter Arena.
Coach Tim Craft's squad has gotten continued scoring punch from wings Naji Hibbert (13.0 ppg) and Donta Harper (12.1 ppg), as well as strong play inside from forwards Jerome Hill (10.5 ppg) and Tyrell Nelson (9.3 ppg). Nelson's production has accelerated nicely over the past five games - when he has averaged 12.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game to lead GWU in both categories during that stretch.
The 6-foot-7, 235-pound freshman from Charlotte, N.C. (Metrolina Christian Academy) has also shot 71.1 percent over the past five games, which has seen Gardner-Webb pick up three wins.
Tyler Strange (8.9 ppg, 5.4 apg) is on pace for 170+ assists this season and has upped his scoring as well in 2013-14. Saturday night will mark just the fourth home game of the season for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
The game will air live on the Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com) and WGWG-FM (88.3 / wgwg.org). Jared Pankhurst will call the action, which will begin at 7:00 or at least 30 minutes after the conclusion of the GWU-Wofford women's contest.
