BOILING SPRINGS --- Tyrell Nelson (Charlotte, N.C.) posted his first double-double of the season with game-highs of 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead six players in double figures, as Gardner-Webb blitzed Toccoa Falls for a 125-79 win on Thursday evening in Paul Porter Arena.
Gardner-Webb (1-2) knocked down 50-of-77 from the floor, including 11-of-22 from downtown, to shoot 64.9 percent from the field on the night. The Runnin' Bulldogs won the battle on the glass by a 49-20 margin, including a dominating 18-6 advantage on the offensive boards, while outscoring the Screamin' Eagles in the paint, 74-40.
Nelson led all scorers with 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting to go along with game-highs of 10 rebounds and five blocks. The junior forward also dished out five assists. David Efianayi (Orlando, Fla.) added 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists as DJ Laster (Pensacola, Fla.) chipped in 14 points and four boards off the bench.
Dylan Poston (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) and Isaiah Ivey (Georgetown, Ky.) each accounted for 13 points as Poston snatched a game- and career-high six steals. Harold McBride (Bronx, N.Y.) tallied 12 points, while Laquincy Rideau (West Palm Beach, Fla.) dished out a game-high eight assists. Jamaal Robateau (Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia) tacked on nine points and seven boards.
Marques Sullivan paced the Screamin' Eagles with 14 points off the bench, as Cam Williams added 12 points. Carlos Hamlett and Stephen Adams each chipped in 11 points.
The Runnin' Bulldogs never trailed, opening an early 32-13 lead on a Rideau trey at the 11:42 mark of the first half that capped a 15-1 surge. Gardner-Webb would outscore Toccoa Falls by a 36-24 margin over the remainder of the period to carry a 68-37 advantage into the intermission.
Toccoa Falls knocked down a pair of tough shots to open the second half, trimming the margin to 68-41 with 18:34 to play on a lay-in by Josh Folwell. Nelson provided the spark moments later to regain the momentum, sinking a layup and a put-back to kick-start a 23-11 run to push the lead out to 91-52 with 12:09 to play.
An 18-9 run down the stretch would put the game away for the Runnin' Bulldogs, as Gardner-Webb posted its second-highest single-game point total as a Division I program – narrowly falling short of the mark of 130 set against St. Mary's (Md.) in 2001.
Gardner-Webb is back in action on Sunday when the Runnin' Bulldogs travel to Knoxville, Tenn. to take on SEC foe Tennessee at 12:00 pm. The game will air live on the SEC Network.
