THE GAME
Gardner-Webb hosts a familiar foe next, welcoming Presbyterian to Paul Porter Arena Thursday night at 7:00 pm. It will mark the 46th meeting between the two schools in men's basketball. The game will stream live on The Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com), with Fabian Fuentes calling the action.

THE SERIES
Gardner-Webb leads the all-time series vs. Presbyterian by a 25-20 margin ... The two teams first met as NAIA members in 1977 ... GWU has won eight in a row in the series and 12 of the last 15 meetings ... GWU took an 84-56 win over Presbyterian last February 18 in Clinton, S.C., to cap a season series sweep ... PC took GWU to overtime two seasons ago in Boiling Springs, before Isaiah Ivey nailed a trey late for a 69-66 Gardner-Webb win (2/6/16).

GARDNER-WEBB QUICK LOOK
•  Gardner-Webb dropped to 2-8 in true road games this season with its 90-67 road loss at Winthrop on Monday. Six of 
    those eight road losses have come in guarantee/buy games. Monday marked the first time in nearly two seasons that
    GWU had lost a Big South game by 20+ points.

•  Gardner-Webb junior David Efianayi has performed at a peak level in Big South weekday games. In Gardner-Webb's 
    three weekday games (2-1), Efianayi has averaged 25.0 points and is shooting a crisp 53.1 percent from the floor. On
    the weekend he is averaging 10.7 points per contest and shooting just 29.7 percent.

•  Senior guard Liam O'Reilly has taken flight in 2017-2018, averaging a career-best 14.2 points per game. The senior 
    has been at his best in weekend games vs. Big South foes (2-1), averaging 22.0 points per game and shooting 54.2 
    percent from long range. During weekday games, O'Reilly is averaging 13.7 ppg and shooting 35.3 percent from deep.

•  O'Reilly has knocked in at least seven 3-point shots twice already in 2017-2018. He made 8-of-10 vs. Warren Wilson 
    and drained 7-of-11 against Liberty. O'Reilly's previous career-best for a single game was five.

•   O'Reilly (17.8 ppg) Efianayi (17.8 ppg) and DJ Laster (10.5 ppg) are averaging in double figures vs. Big South 
    Conference foes.

•   Center L'Hassane Niangane is averaging 10.5 rebounds per game over his last two home games, including a career-
    best 12 caroms in a start vs. Radford (1/12). He had nine boards and three blocks in the High Point win (1/9).

•   Sophomore Patrick Zeck leads the squad in rebounding vs. Big South Conference opponents (6.8 rpg) and has been 
    effective defensively with 1.1 blocks per game. Zeck's free throws with 14.9 seconds left vs. Radford effectively
    sealed the game, and his steal on the ensuing possession put it out of reach.

•   Gardner-Webb has gone 7-0 at home so far this season and has won nine in a row in Paul Porter Arena since last 
    season. Gardner-Webb's last home loss came on February 9, 2017 in a double overtime loss to Liberty (92-87). 
    The team's longest home win streak under current head coach Tim Craft was a 10-game stretch from February 8, 2014
    through January 14, 2016.

•   Gardner-Webb's last three opponents in Paul Porter Arena have combined to make only 11 three-point baskets (3.7 
    per game).

•   Gardner-Webb remains shorthanded in the frontcourt, with center Brandon Miller out for an extended period with an 
    injury. GWU played with standout forward DJ Laster hampered by the flu early in Big South Conference play as well. 
    Wing Jamaal Robateau is back healthy after missing five games earlier this season with an injury. The Runnin' 
    Bulldogs were without sixth man Jaheam Cornwall (injury) against Radford and Winthrop.