BOILING SPRINGS –
DJ Laster scored 18 to lead five men in double figures and Gardner-Webb rolled to a 106-29 win over Brevard College Wednesday in Paul Porter Arena.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (9-5) won their seventh in a row in the process.
David Efianayi and
Jose Perez each scored 17 points,
Eric Jamison, Jr., added 16 points and
Brandon Miller netted a season-high 10 points as all 12 players available for the game scored.
The 77-point margin of victory is Gardner-Webb's largest over an opponent since moving to Division I in 2000 and also marked the fewest points allowed since that move. It marked the second lowest point total allowed in the program's senior college history (since 1970).
Gardner-Webb shot 70.4 percent from the floor and led 51-15 by halftime. A 20-0 run to start the second half pushed the margin above 50 points, with Brevard not scoring in the half until a three-pointer from Malon Herron-Cuthbert beat the shot clock with 11:34 remaining.
Brevard endured multiple scoring droughts of four minutes or more, with Gardner-Webb clamping down early and often on defense. The Runnin' Bulldogs forced 20 turnovers and converted those errors into a 35-0 edge in transition.
Perez, Laster and Jamison each reached double figures scoring by halftime for Gardner-Webb and none of the GWU starters played past the five minute mark in the second half. Laster made 9-of-10 shots, Jamison connected on 6-of-8 and Perez nailed 5-of-8 to kick off a very efficient performance for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Efianayi added seven rebounds and six assists in a stellar floor game from his wing spot – and Gardner-Webb averaged 1.38 points per possession, made 20 layups and dunks and scored 58 points in the paint.
Brevard shot just 18.0 percent for the game (9-of-50) and saw Gardner-Webb own a 48-18 edge on the backboards. The Tornados were 3-of-25 from three-point range (13.3 percent) and made 8-of-15 free throws (53.3 percent).
Herron-Cuthber came off the bench to score a team-high eight points and Demari Hopper scored seven to pace Brevard.
Gardner-Webb will break for Christmas, before hitting the road again on Saturday, December 29, to face ACC member Wake Forest. The game is set to tip in Winston-Salem, N.C., at 2:00 pm.
The Runnin' Bulldogs and Demon Deacons will stream live on ACC Extra (ESPN3), with Dave Friedman and Stan Lewter on the call from Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.