BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb finally gets back home on Wednesday night, hosting High Point at 7:00 pm in Paul Porter Arena for another critical Big South contest.

After playing four of its first six league games away from home, Gardner-Webb (12-9, 2-4 Big South) will have a chance to gather itself with two home games this week. 

A very difficult challenge awaits Wednesday night, however, as the Panthers (11-9, 4-2 Big South) have gotten off to a strong start under legendary head coach Tubby Smith – who is in his first season in charge at his alma mater.

High Point is led by second-year standout Jahaad Proctor, who ranks among the Big South leaders with an average of 19.4 points per game – with 80 made free throws to his credit through 20 starts. Wing Brandon Kamga (13.9 ppg) is also having a strong second season with the Panthers and big man Ricky Madison has supplied plenty of pop with averages of 7.0 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.

The Panthers' defensive effort has limited opponents to 66.9 points per game overall, and has improved against league foes to just 59.7 points per game – and just a 36.4-percent effort from the floor.

Gardner-Webb has endured two consecutive slow starts – averaging just 20.5 points in each of its last two first half efforts in losses at Winthrop and Charleston Southern. The Runnin' Bulldogs have responded well in the second half of each game – including a 62-point outburst at Winthrop – but have fallen too far behind.

The return home should help, with head coach Tim Craft's squad holding a 7-0 record at home this season – and a 19-2 mark in Paul Porter Arena since the end of the 2016-2017.

Each of Gardner-Webb's Big South wins so far have been at home, including a late burst that allowed the 'Dogs to top Hampton on January 19 in overtime.

All-Big South candidates David Efianayi (17.5 ppg), Jose Perez (15.8 ppg) and DJ Laster (13.0 ppg) have continued to score the ball for Gardner-Webb, with Nate Johnson (10.1 ppg) also proving to be a reliable weapon. All four hit double figures in the win over Hampton, with Perez recording a double-double (21 points / 11 rebounds).

Efianayi needs just 23 more points to reach 1,500 for his career and Laster sits at an even 1,000 points heading into Wednesday night.

Gardner-Webb and High Point split last season's series, with GWU winning a January 9 meeting in Boiling Springs (62-45) and High Point holding on for a win in the Triad on February 18 (66-65). Each team won on the road to split the regular season series two years ago, with GWU taking the rubber match in the Big South quarterfinals.

For more information, including tickets, for Wednesday night's battle, call Gardner-Webb athletics at (704) 406-4340.