BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – UNC Asheville defeated Gardner-Webb 72-67 in overtime. Alex Caldwell raced up the floor and put up a three-pointer at the end of regulation to force the extra time.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs held a five-point advantage with 54 seconds to play after a free-throw by DQ Nicholas. The Bulldogs outscored GWU 7-4 in the closing seconds and after a pair of good free throws by Quest Aldridge led to UNCA's make by Caldwell.
 
Overtime started with UNCA getting the first bucket on a dunk by Amadou Sylla 31 seconds into the period, their first lead of the game. Gardner-Webb drew even at 67 with 1:16 to play after a tough make by Kareem Reid in the paint.
 
On the following possession, the GWU defense forced UNCA into a tough look as the shot clock was running down. Pember passed the ball to Fletcher Abee, lost it, and Lucas Steiber picked it up. The referees called a travel on the play as the GWU players thought there should have been a shot clock violation called instead, awarding UNCA the ball back.
 
Caldwell drilled a shot from downtown and held on for the rest of the game. Pember made a late pair of free throws to seal the road win.
 
Gardner-Webb had Nicholas lead them in scoring at 17 and Reid added 15. Ludovic Dufeal led the team with rebounding pulling down eight while Nicholas and Aldridge each had seven. Reid finished with three steals while Dufeal and Stieber had a pair apiece.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs held the visitors to 20-50 (40%) from the floor but shot 11-27 (40.7%) from deep. Gardner-Webb made 23-64 (35.9%) and was 4-19 (21.1%) from behind the arc. GWU struggled from the line going 17-29 (58.6%).
 
UNCA turned the ball over 16 times to GWU's 10 with the Runnin' Bulldogs having a 19-11 advantage in points off turnovers. GWU also had an edge inside the paint outscoring the visitors 36-12 from inside it.
 
Gardner-Webb (3-3) will travel to Farmville, Va. (4-1) for a matchup on Wednesday, January 18 at 7:00 p.m. against Longwood, the Big South's reigning champions.