BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb must endure a very quick turnaround, returning home to host Hampton Saturday, January 17 at 7:00 pm in Paul Porter Arena.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (11-7, 1-2 Big South) will host the Pirates (7-9, 2-1 Big South) less than 48 hours after playing at first-place Radford. Saturday's game will stream live on ESPN+, with Fabian Fuentes and Blake McCandless on the call.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early for the 7:00 pm tip, as the Gardner-Webb women host Winthrop in the first half of Saturday's doubleheader.
The GWU men took a 75-58 loss at Radford Thursday night, a game that saw the Highlanders close on a 19-5 run to open up a tight game in the final seven minutes. After Gardner-Webb pulled within 56-53 with just over eight minutes left on a
Jose Perez three ball, Radford responded with a 12-0 run.
The loss was Gardner-Webb's second on the road in league play in two tries, and continued a trend of tough offensive outings against Big South opponents. In its three conference games so far, GWU is averaging just 61.0 points per game – well below its season scoring average overall, but 21.9 points below its season scoring average against non-conference Division I foes not from larger conferences.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will try to get back on track offensively against a Hampton team picked to finish third in the preseason poll. Coach Edward Joyner, Jr., has directed the Pirates to three NCAA Tournament berths during his 10-year tenure.
Hampton features one of the nation's most dynamic scorers in guard Jermaine Marrow, who pours in a healthy 24.5 points per game and shoots a sizzling 42.6 percent from three-point range (43-of-101). He is joined in double figures by Kalin Fisher (14.4 ppg), with Greg Heckstall (8.9 ppg) and Akim Mitchell (8.4 ppg) close behind.
Gardner-Webb has topped Hampton in each of its previous two meetings, winning by a slim 80-79 margin last season on the road. GWU topped Hampton, 69-63, two seasons ago in Boiling Springs.
For more information on the game, call Gardner-Webb athletics at (704) 406-4340. Tickets will be available for both of Saturday's games at the door.
