CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Gardner-Webb endured another cold shooting day, this time on the road, and dropped a 71-59 decision at Western Carolina Saturday afternoon in men's basketball action.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (0-2) shot 42.1 percent overall and just 18.2 percent from three-point range (2-of-11) in the loss.

Gardner-Webb jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead after a three-pointer from Ludovic Dufeal and a two from Jose Perez, but Western Carolina (1-1) started to get shots to fall and eventually seized control of the game.

Neither team shot well in the opening half, with the Catamounts holding a 27-22 edge at the break after a sloppy first 20 minutes. Both teams shot less than 40 percent and turned the ball over a combined 21 times.

Western Carolina was effective in the second half with the inside-out combo of Carlos Dotson and Mason Faulkner and expanded its lead to double figures midway through the second half and weren't threatened heavily the rest of the way.

Eric Jamison, Jr., led Gardner-Webb with 15 points and seven boards and Perez finished with 13 points to go with seven rebounds. Foul trouble mounted for GWU, with five men collecting at least four fouls – with one disqualification.

Jaheam Cornwall had nine points and Nate Johnson scored six for Gardner-Webb.

Faulkner, a graduate transfer from Northern Kentucky, finished with a game-high 22 points on 4-of-5 shooting from deep and 6-of-12 shooting overall to lead Western Carolina. He added six assists and two steals in 31 minutes.

Dotson came on in the second half to finish with 15 points and eight rebounds. Kameron Gibson added 13 points and Xavier Cork had seven to go with nine rebounds.

The Catamounts made 9-of-30 from long range and connected on 20-of-32 from the free throw line. WCU held a 27-10 edge in points off of turnovers in the game, turning Gardner-Webb's 22 miscues directly into points.

Gardner-Webb is in action next Friday at No. 9 North Carolina. Opening tip is set for 9:00 pm in The Smith Center and will air live on the ACC Network.