GAME PREVIEW: Runnin' Bulldogs Cap 2015 Against Coastal Carolina Thursday
December 30, 2015 | Men's Basketball
Game Notes | Live stats | Video
The Lead - Top Storylines for Thursday's Game
1. The Matchup
Gardner-Webb and Coastal Carolina resume what has become one of the most intense rivalries in the Big South over the past several seasons Thursday, facing off for the first since the Chanticleers edged the Runnin' Bulldogs, 73-70, in the semifinal round of last spring's Big South Tournament en route to their second straight championship. Coastal Carolina holds a narrow 9-8 advantage in the all-time series after Gardner-Webb took both regular season meetings in 2014-2015.
2. Last Time Out - Gardner-Webb 101, Middle Georgia 78
Gardner-Webb ran away with an easy victory over NAIA Middle Georgia State on Monday, defeating the Knights 101-78 as the Runnin' Bulldogs placed four players in double figures. Tyrell Nelson and Harold McBride contributed 19 and 18 points, respectively, as the Runnin' Bulldogs knocked down 48.8 percent of their attempts from the floor and out-rebounded the Knights, 44-36.
3. Nelson Inching Closer
Junior Tyrell Nelson is closing in on a significant personal milestone, entering Thursday's matchup against Coastal Carolina needing 26 points to reach the 1,000-point plateau for his career. The 6-foot-7, 235-pound forward has scored 183 points so far this season, and now stands at 974 in 81 career games as a Runnin' Bulldog. He currently ranks sixth in the program's Division I era.
4. Senior Leadership
The Runnin' Bulldog starting five has featured at least three seniors in every game this season, with Harold McBride, Dylan Poston, Isaiah Ivey and Herve Aholode playing a big role in getting Gardner-Webb going in each of the team's first 14 outings. Adonis Burbage has provided a significant scoring spark off the bench in each of the last 11 games, averaging 9.9 points per contest while knocking down 44.6 percent of his attempts from three-point range.
5. Taking a Look At Coastal Carolina
The Chanticleers enter Thursday's game with a 7-5 overall record, and a 1-1 mark in Big South play after splitting with Campbell and Radford in the first two tilts of the conference slate in early December. Eljiah Wilson leads four Chanticleers in double figures with an average of 13.5 points per game, just ahead of Badou Diagne who averages 13.1 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds per contest. Shivaughn Wiggins and Jaylen Shaw average 12.6 and 11.3 points per game, respectively, for the Chanticleers.
