BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb returns home after a long road trip to Florida, hosting Warren Wilson Saturday afternoon at 3:00 pm in the 2017 home opener.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (0-3) nearly pulled out a win at UCF on Wednesday night, missing twice in the final 10 seconds from long range in a 68-65 loss to the Golden Knights in Orlando.

A bright spot for Gardner-Webb early this season has been power forward D.J. Laster (Pensacola, Fla. / Pensacola Catholic HS). The 6-foot-6, 230-pound junior has stepped in nicely for graduated All-Big South forward Tyrell Nelson, averaging a team-best 16.7 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. 

Laster leads the Big South in rebounding average so far, and has extended his range past the three-point arc when needed.

Coach Tim Craft's squad has gotten expected production from All-Big South guard David Efianayi (13.3 ppg) and have seen guards Liam O'Reilly (8.7 ppg) and Jaheam Cornwall (6.7 ppg) each reach double figures scoring so far in 2017.

Cornwall was efficient at No. 7 Florida on Monday night, knocking down 7-of-10 shots (3-of-5 from deep) en route to a season-high 18 points. The Brooklyn, N.Y., freshman also paces the squad with nine assists so far. He had four helpers and no turnovers in his debut at No. 12 Miami last weekend.

Warren Wilson (3-3) plays at NC Central Friday night, and entered that game averaging 110.0 points per game – including 144 points in a win over Crown College Tuesday night.

Guards Jordan Gant (23.6 ppg), Darius Bryant (15.8 ppg), Michael Pomery (14.4 ppg) and Tyquavion Dix (14.0 ppg) have paced the Owls in scoring so far.

Gant, a 5-foot-11 sophomore from Waynesboro, Ga., netted 45 points vs. Crown College and scored 30 in the previous game vs. The Apprentice School. He shot a combined 24-of-44 (54.5 percent) in those two wins while making 18-of-38 from long range (64.2 percent).

Gant made 12 three-point buckets vs. Crown.

Tickets for Saturday afternoon's game are available at the gate. The game will air live on The Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com), with Fabian Fuentes calling the action.