Thursday, February 15
Boiling Springs, N.C.
7:00 PM
Gardner-Webb University
vs
Winthrop
Photo by: © Courtney Culbreath, GWUPhotos.com
Gardner-Webb Will Host Winthrop Thursday Night In Key Big South Hoops Tilt
February 14, 2018 | Men's Basketball
THE GAME
Gardner-Webb welcomes second-place Winthrop to Paul Porter Arena on Thursday night in a rematch of a January 15 Eagles' win. The game will stream live on the Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com), with Fabian Fuentes calling the action.
GARDNER-WEBB QUICK LOOK
• Gardner-Webb dropped its first home game of the season on February 7, falling 78-70 to Campbell.
GWU saw a 12-game win streak at home snapped overall, which was its longest since becoming a full Division I
member in 2002-2003. GWU is 10-1 in Paul Porter Arena this season.
• In its seven league wins so far, Gardner-Webb is allowing just 57.9 ppg with a 22.3 percent defensive effort against
opposing three-point shooters. In its seven league losses, GWU is allowing 77.4 points per game and allowing teams
to shoot a more efficient 40.0 percent from long range (9.4 makes per game). Gardner-Webb has also allowed its
oppoents to make 108 free throws in its seven Big South losses (15.4 per game).
• Gardner-Webb has found three double figures scorers for the second season in a row, with David Efianayi (17.4 ppg),
DJ Laster (13.9 ppg) and Liam O'Reilly (14.1 ppg) each enjoying career-best years. Point guard and sixth man
Jaheam Cornwall is pouring in a solid 10.3 ppg in Big South games this season.
• Efianayi remains among the Big South's top scorers this season (17.4 ppg) and has made his mark once again
at the free throw line. The Orlando, Fla., slasher saw his string of 24 consecutive made free throws snapped on
February 3 vs. Charleston Southern, but has connected at an 80.8 percent clip this season. Efianayi has made 100 free
throws for the second season in a row. Efianayi ranks second in the Big South with 122 made free throws so far this
season (122-of-151).
• The trio of Jaheam Cornwall, David Efianayi and Liam O'Reilly have combined to shoot 89.6 percent from the free
throw stripe over the past five games (52-of-58). Cornwall (90.0 percent) and O'Reilly (92.9 percent) have missed
only once each. Efianayi is 30-of-34 during that stretch (88.2 percent)
• Efianayi is averaging 20.0 points per game vs. the teams in or tied for the top three spots in the current Big South
standings. He has made 35-of-40 free throws in those six games vs. UNC Asheville, Winthrop, Radford (x2) and
Campbell (x2).
• Cornwall supplying 14.4 points and shooting a sizzling 68.6 percent off the bench over the last five games, including
an efficient 15-of-24 effort from long range (62.5 percent). The Brooklyn, N.Y., freshman returned to the floor five
games ago vs. Longwood (1/27) after missing five games with an injury. He went 7-for-7 from the floor in that win
over the Lancers and had a stretch of 11-straight field goals made snapped on his final attempt at the buzzer vs.
Radford (2/1).
• Gardner-Webb has gone 6-5 this season in games decided by two possessions or less – or in overtime. One of those
losses came at UCF in November (68-65). GWU is 6-2 in those type games against Big South Conference foes this
season. The Runnin' Bulldogs were only 1-8 in those games last season.
• Head coach Tim Craft is only three wins away from becoming just third head coach in Big South history to win at
least 15 games in each of his first five seasons in the league. Gardner-Webb is within striking distance of posting
its sixth winning season in a row as well, a feat not accomplished in Boiling Springs since the NAIA era.
• Winthrop has controlled the series over Gardner-Webb, holding an 19-9 edge all-time ... The Eagles have won seven in
a row, including a three-game sweep last season and a comfortable win in Rock Hill on January 15 this season ... Winthrop
won a 72-70 thriller in Boiling Springs last season ... Gardner-Webb's last win over Winthrop in Paul Porter Arena came on
January 10, 2015.
Gardner-Webb welcomes second-place Winthrop to Paul Porter Arena on Thursday night in a rematch of a January 15 Eagles' win. The game will stream live on the Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com), with Fabian Fuentes calling the action.
GARDNER-WEBB QUICK LOOK
• Gardner-Webb dropped its first home game of the season on February 7, falling 78-70 to Campbell.
GWU saw a 12-game win streak at home snapped overall, which was its longest since becoming a full Division I
member in 2002-2003. GWU is 10-1 in Paul Porter Arena this season.
• In its seven league wins so far, Gardner-Webb is allowing just 57.9 ppg with a 22.3 percent defensive effort against
opposing three-point shooters. In its seven league losses, GWU is allowing 77.4 points per game and allowing teams
to shoot a more efficient 40.0 percent from long range (9.4 makes per game). Gardner-Webb has also allowed its
oppoents to make 108 free throws in its seven Big South losses (15.4 per game).
• Gardner-Webb has found three double figures scorers for the second season in a row, with David Efianayi (17.4 ppg),
DJ Laster (13.9 ppg) and Liam O'Reilly (14.1 ppg) each enjoying career-best years. Point guard and sixth man
Jaheam Cornwall is pouring in a solid 10.3 ppg in Big South games this season.
• Efianayi remains among the Big South's top scorers this season (17.4 ppg) and has made his mark once again
at the free throw line. The Orlando, Fla., slasher saw his string of 24 consecutive made free throws snapped on
February 3 vs. Charleston Southern, but has connected at an 80.8 percent clip this season. Efianayi has made 100 free
throws for the second season in a row. Efianayi ranks second in the Big South with 122 made free throws so far this
season (122-of-151).
• The trio of Jaheam Cornwall, David Efianayi and Liam O'Reilly have combined to shoot 89.6 percent from the free
throw stripe over the past five games (52-of-58). Cornwall (90.0 percent) and O'Reilly (92.9 percent) have missed
only once each. Efianayi is 30-of-34 during that stretch (88.2 percent)
• Efianayi is averaging 20.0 points per game vs. the teams in or tied for the top three spots in the current Big South
standings. He has made 35-of-40 free throws in those six games vs. UNC Asheville, Winthrop, Radford (x2) and
Campbell (x2).
• Cornwall supplying 14.4 points and shooting a sizzling 68.6 percent off the bench over the last five games, including
an efficient 15-of-24 effort from long range (62.5 percent). The Brooklyn, N.Y., freshman returned to the floor five
games ago vs. Longwood (1/27) after missing five games with an injury. He went 7-for-7 from the floor in that win
over the Lancers and had a stretch of 11-straight field goals made snapped on his final attempt at the buzzer vs.
Radford (2/1).
• Gardner-Webb has gone 6-5 this season in games decided by two possessions or less – or in overtime. One of those
losses came at UCF in November (68-65). GWU is 6-2 in those type games against Big South Conference foes this
season. The Runnin' Bulldogs were only 1-8 in those games last season.
• Head coach Tim Craft is only three wins away from becoming just third head coach in Big South history to win at
least 15 games in each of his first five seasons in the league. Gardner-Webb is within striking distance of posting
its sixth winning season in a row as well, a feat not accomplished in Boiling Springs since the NAIA era.
• Winthrop has controlled the series over Gardner-Webb, holding an 19-9 edge all-time ... The Eagles have won seven in
a row, including a three-game sweep last season and a comfortable win in Rock Hill on January 15 this season ... Winthrop
won a 72-70 thriller in Boiling Springs last season ... Gardner-Webb's last win over Winthrop in Paul Porter Arena came on
January 10, 2015.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
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