BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb opens its 2019-2020 men's basketball season at home Tuesday night, with a marquis regional battle on tap against Furman in Paul Porter Arena.
 
Opening tip is set for 7:00 pm and will feature two teams expected to compete for their respective conference titles again this season. Prior to tip, Gardner-Webb will lower its 2019 Big South Conference championship and NCAA Tournament banners. 
 
For ticket information, call GWU athletics at (704) 406-4340.
 
Tuesday marks the seventh meeting in the series, with both teams splitting the previous six contests. Furman has won two in a row in the series, holding off GWU last November 13 for an 88-86 overtime win in Greenville, S.C. The Paladins also took a 68-65 win over Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs on December 10, 2016. 
 
Gardner-Webb enters the season riding a 14-game home win streak in Paul Porter Arena and went a stellar 13-0 in the building last season. GWU is 25-2 in its last 27 home games overall and has won 10 non-conference home games in a row – with its last loss to a non-conference squad coming to Furman in 2016.
 
Under Tim Craft, Gardner-Webb has gone 25-3 in non-conference home games since the 2013-2014 season.
 
GWU welcomes back six men with starting experience for 2019-2020, led by preseason All-Big South selections Jose Perez (6-5, 200, So.) and Nate Johnson (6-3, 185, Jr.) on the wings. The steady point guard combination of Jaheam Cornwall (6-0, 175, Jr.) and Christian Turner (5-10, 180, Sr.) also return – as does breakout forward Eric Jamison, Jr. (6-6, 195, Sr.). Veteran backcourt man Justin Jenkins (6-2, 200, Sr.) is also back for his final campaign.
 
The biggest surprise of preseason was forward Ludovic Dufeal (6-8, 200, So.), who was strong in the exhibition win over Elon with 15 points and seven rebounds on 7-of-9 shooting. He will be joined in a front court rotation by talented newcomers Kareem Reid (6-9, 205, Fr.) and Gabe Bryant (6-9, 250, Fr.).
 
Furman is coming off a 28-win season that included an at-large NIT appearance one year ago, and the Paladins have won 48 games combined over the past two campaigns under head coach Bob Richey.
 
Four starters return from that squad, led by SoCon Player of the Year candidate Jordan Lyons (16.2 ppg). Bouncy forward Clay Mounce (10.9 ppg), who scored a team-high 26 points in last season's win over Gardner-Webb, returns to anchor the front court along with Noah Gurley (8.8 ppg). Point guard Alex Hunter (9.0 ppg) also returns to the starting lineup.
 
Tuesday's game will stream live on ESPN+, with Fabian Fuentes and Brendan Boylan on the call. The game marks Gardner-Webb's first season opener at home since the 2009-2010 season.