BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb University men's basketball returns home to Paul Porter Arena on Saturday, Nov. 25 to host the Limestone University Saints at 1:00 p.m. Saturday's game will stream live on ESPN+ (WatchESPN.com), with the radio call broadcast live on 730 The Game (ESPN Charlotte 730 AM), the Varsity Network App, GWUSports.com/listenlive, and ESPNCLT.com. Anna Witte and former Penn State Head Coach Jerry Dunn will be on the ESPN+ broadcast. Mark Binetti will be on the call for radio.
 
SCOUTING THE SAINTS
The Limestone Saints enter Saturday's meeting with 'Dawgs with a record of 0-4. They've fallen in games against Georgia College (73-70, Nov. 11), Georgia Southwestern (80-73, Nov. 12), North Greenville (72-67, Nov. 15), and USC Aiken (83-82, Nov. 18). Last season the Saints posted a record of 13-16 and reached the quarterfinals of the South Atlantic Conference Championship tournament where they lost to Catawba. Head Coach Kyle Perry is in his fourth season with Limestone with a record of 29-72. Gardner-Webb holds a 27-10 record all-time against Limestone. This will be the first meeting between the Runnin' Bulldogs and Saints since Dec. 30, 2003 with GWU coming out on top 84-72. This will also be the first meeting between the two schools since Gardner-Webb moved to division I.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Most recently Gardner-Webb competed in the Inaugural Atlantic Slam. The Runnin' Bulldogs opened it with a win over Weber State. The game got off to a slow start as Gardner-Webb's Julien Soumaoro and Brendan Mykalcio putting up a pair of buckets providing a 4-0 lead in the first four minutes. Weber State began to heat up answering with a 16-6 run over the next five minutes as Dillon Jones jump started the scoring for the Wildcats. Soumaoro and DQ Nicholas provided key shots to allow the Runnin' Bulldogs to stay within 10 points of Weber State until the 5:33 minute mark. The 'Dawgs began to close the gap in the closing minutes of the half on a 8-5 run as Julien Soumaoro hit back-to-back threes, Caleb Robinson added a scoop and score of his own. Weber State led 34-27 at the break.
 
Both teams stepped up on defense to open the second half leading to another slow offensive start. Dillon Jones allowed the Wildcats to keep their foot on the gas in the first seven minutes of the half. Julien Sourmaoro stayed hot for the Runnin' Bulldogs hitting a three-pointer at the 13:43 minute mark and a jumper at the 10:54 minute mark to close the Weber State led to just two. Caleb Robinson then scored off a turnover to tie the game 43-43. Dillon Jones built the lead back up for the Wildcats leading the team in scoring down the stretch. The Runnin' Bulldogs stayed neck-and-neck with Weber State until Soumaoro hit a three in the final 52 seconds to bring the game to one point. After some great 'Dawg defense, Caleb Robinson hit the go-ahead lay-up to make in 60-59 Gardner-Webb. After a pair of Weber State free throws, Darryl Simmons II dished it to Brendan MyKalcio for another go ahead lay-up. The Runnin' Bulldogs hung on to win 62-61.
 
GWU then fell in their next game of the weekend against Colgate. The Raiders came out hot in the ballgame opening the first three minutes with 12-0 run. The Runnin' Bulldogs were able to slow the scoring and close the gap thanks to key buckets from Cheickna Sissoko, Quest Aldridge, Brendan MyKalcio and Caleb Robinson, taking the lead at the 11:22 minute mark 13-12. The 'Dawgs and Raiders then went back and forth for a pair of possessions before Colgate regained the lead thanks to the first half play of Braeden Smith. A three-pointer from Julien Soumaro and a two from Ademide Badmus pushed the 'Dawgs to 20 points. Colgate to the lead into the half 26-20.
 
Gardner-Webb came right out and tied it at 26 to begin the second half thanks to Lucas Stieber. Parker Jones and Ryan Moffatt quickly regained the six-point lead for Colgate. By the 12:17 minute mark Colgate held a seven-point lead. Stieber, Robinson and DQ Nicholas kept the pressure on for Gardner-Webb as the game was tied four times in the final 4:29 to play. With 2:11 left, Colgate began a 9-2 run to close it out 59-52.
 
Gardner-Webb closed out the weekend with a close loss to Yale. Yale got things going early on opening the game with a 22-7 run. Quest Aldridge put in an early three-pointer to try to cut into the lead for GWU. Gardner-Webb stepped up their defense once Yale hit 24 points, and as a team began to close the gap to 24-15 thanks to Julien Soumaoro, Isaiah Richards, Lucas Stieber, and Brendan Mykalcio. Yale kept their cushion in the first half with Shahar Lazar adding free throws and a layup before halftime. Yale led at the break 36-23.
 
Both teams came out scoring early in the second half. Julien Soumaoro and Caleb Robinson were able to take advantage as the Runnin' Bulldogs began to show their grit cutting the lead to 43-35 in favor of Yale by the 15:43 minute mark. Stieber and Aldridge were able to help close the Yale lead to just five points by 14:12. Yale's Danny Wolf and Bez Mbeng extended the lead over the next three minutes. GWU was able to cut the lead to just three for Yale 54-51 with 7:43 left to play. Gardner-Webb's Isaiah Richards and Caleb Robinson assisted with key buckets in transition. Yale continued to extend the lead with each possession down the stretch with Gardner-Webb fighting back each time. With three minutes left in the ballgame DQ Nicholas laid it in drawing the foul making the and-one to tie the game 63-63. The game was tied at 65 then 67 by the end of regulation. The five-minute overtime period saw both teams put up shots within the paint. Richards and Nicholas made a pair of shots for Gardner-Webb, but it was ultimately Yale that came out on top 71-70 thanks to a layup by Danny Wolf. The Runnin' Bulldogs were unable to convert in their final possession.
 
'DAWG WATCH
Following their play in the Atlantic Slam, GWU is 6-4 in games outside of the United States or in the surrounding territories all-time. Julien Soumaoro had the most standout performance for Gardner-Webb over the weekend. The junior guard from the Bronx, N.Y. dropped a career high 27 points against Weber Stat (Nov. 17), four against Colgate (Nov. 18), and 17 against Yale (Nov. 19). He put up 48 points for the Runnin' Bulldogs north of the border, and was named to the Atlantic Slam all-tournament team. He leads GWU with 87 points thus far. Junior forward Isaiah Richards turned in a great weekend for the 'Dawgs scoring 23 points and pulling in 12 rebounds. He's second on the team in rebounds total with 26. Caleb Robinson continues to be a team leader tallying 32 points, 17 rebounds, three assists and two blocks during the Atlantic Slam. The senior guard leads the team in rebounds with 32, and is second on the team in scoring with 71. Other 'Dawgs with strong starts to the season include Brendan Mykalcio with 41 points, 24 rebounds and three blocks, and DQ Nicholas with 39 points and 14 assists.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Following Limestone, the Runnin' Bulldogs will travel to take on Queens University of Charlotte on Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 7:00 p.m. GWU will return home to host Western Carolina University on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 7:00 p.m.
 
Times and television coverage for all Gardner-Webb men's basketball games can be found at gwusports.com. For more information on the Gardner-Webb men's basketball team, fans can follow the team on Twitter at @GWU_MBK or on Instagram at @gwu_mbk.