THE GAME
Gardner-Webb opens its 2022-2023 home slate on Saturday at Noon, hosting defending Southern Conference champion Chattanooga in Paul Porter Arena. The game will air live on ESPN+ (Jon Gross, Coach Jerry Dunn). Jim "Mojo" Morrison will have the radio call on ESPNCLT.com.

THE SERIES
Gardner-Webb holds a 1-0 edge over Chattanooga in the all-time series, winning 76-74 in overtime on the Mocs' home court on November 27, 2011 as part of the Hoosier Classic Tournament ... Big man Mike Byron scored 18 points off the bench and Max Landis scored 17 to lead the way ... Landis two free throws late in regulation sent the game to OT and Tush Newsome's layup with 4.2 seconds left provided the winning margin.

QUICK NOTES
Gardner-Webb is 8-1 in home openers under Tim Craft, with the lone blemish coming vs. Furman to start the 2019-2020 campaign.

Gardner-Webb has opened at home in the month of December three times under Craft. GWU topped Savannah State on December 1, 2018 in its first home game of the season and beat VMI 88-77 on December 18, 2021 in its first game that season in Paul Porter Arena. Chattanooga coach Dan Earl was in charge of the Keydets' program that year.

Five of Gardner-Webb's games this season have been decided by two possessions or less, including a 72-66 loss at top-ranked North Carolina on November 15. The Runnin' Bulldogs are 1-1 in games not decided by two possessions or less, falling at Stephen F. Austin (86-71) and handling Western Carolina (71-55) in its last outing.

Anthony Selden leads GWU in scoring this season and has ramped up his production over the past five games. Selden is hitting for 13.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game during that stretch, which includes an 11-of-11 effort at the free throw line. 

Gardner-Webb was 11-3 at home last season and have a 94-31 record in Paul Porter Arena under head coach Tim Craft (75.2 percent). The Runnin' Bulldogs went 13-0 at home in 2018-2019, 11-2 in 2017-2018 and 14-2 in 2014-2015.

Gardner-Webb has been solid defensively all season, but particularly of late, blocking 28 shots (5.6 per game) over the last five. GWU has limited teams to less than 30 percent shooting (32-of-107) from long range during that same stretch and 37.4     percent overall.

Kareem Reid is just nine blocked shots away from 150 for his career.

Ludovic Dufeal surpassed 500 rebounds for his career at Gardner-Webb earlier this season on November 26 with seven boards at North Carolina Central. The senior has 506 in 109 career games played (75 starts).

The Runnin' Bulldogs led by as many as 23 points in its 71-55 win at Western Carolina on Wednesday night behind 15 points from forward Kareem Reid, 14 points from Anthony Selden and 11 from Julien Soumaoro.

Gardner-Webb has held four of its opponents under 40.0 percent shooting this season. Only two opponents have topped 50.0 percent shooting (Colorado State, North Carolina A&T), with GWU going 1-1 in those games.

Gardner-Webb led Mountain West contender Colorado State by 11 points at halftime in the November 7 season opener, but fell victim to a last-second shot in a 65-63 loss in Fort Collins.

The Runnin' Bulldogs scored 62 points in the paint and made 33-of-36 free throws in a 110-62 exhibition win over NCAA Division II foe Erskine (S.C.) College on November 3. All-Big South forward Kareem Reid netted 20 points on perfect shooting from the floor (7-of-7) and free throw line (6-of-6).