BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb University men's basketball team will continue their early season non-conference slate on the road against the No. 14 University of Arkansas Razorbacks on Friday, Nov. 10. at 8:00 p.m. Friday's game will stream live on SEC Network+ (WatchESPN.com), with the radio call broadcast live on the Varsity Network App, GWUSports.com/listenlive, and ESPNCLT.com. "The Voice of the Runnin' Bulldogs" Phil Constantino and Jim "Mojo" Morrison will be on the call for radio.
 
SCOUTING THE RAZORBACKS
The Arkansas Razorbacks enter Friday's game ranked No. 14 in the nation. They sit at 1-0 with a 93-59 win over Alcorn State University. Last season Arkansas posted a record of 22-14 reaching the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament falling to the University of Connecticut. This will be Gardner-Webb's first meeting with Arkansas since Nov. 13, 2021 when they fell 86-69. Most recently the Runnin' Bulldogs defeated SEC opponents the University of Georgia 77-60 on Dec. 29, 2021, and the University of Kentucky 84-68 on Nov. 7, 2007.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Runnin' Bulldogs (1-0) got their 2023-2024 campaign underway on Nov. 6 defeating Erskine College by a final score of 98-58. Five different Runnin' Bulldogs tallied double digit performances in the victory. Shahar Lazar and Julien Soumaoro were able to jump start the scoring for Gardner-Webb late in the first half with a three pointer each. The 44-28 first half run was highlighted field goals from DQ Nicholas and Darryl "Buddy" Simmons.
 
Brendan Mykalcio made his presence felt for Gardner-Webb in the first six minutes of the second half making three free throws and a field goal as the 'Dawgs went on a 14-4 run. The score sat at 71-41 with about 10 minutes left. Various Runnin' Bulldogs contributed as the lead grew including Darryl Simmons II, Quest Aldridge and Caleb Robinson. Gardner-Webb ultimately won by 40 points.
 
GAME ONE NOTABLES
GWU as a team against Erskine made 57 rebounds including 25 offensively and 32 defensively. The Runnin' Bulldogs went 22-31 at the free throw line for an average of .710. Five different 'Dawgs tallied double-digit points including two newcomers to the roster this season. Junior guard Brendan Mykalcio had a pair of career highs recording his first career double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman guard Darryl "Buddy" Simmons II co-led the 'Dawgs in scoring also reaching 15. He and DQ Nicholas each drained four three pointers. Caleb Robinson tallied 14 points and Shahar Lazar scored 12 points going 5-6 with a trio of three pointers in his opening performance for Gardner Webb. Cheickna Sissoko also contributed going 6-6 from the stripe.
 
RETURNING 'DAWGS
Senior guard DQ Nicholas was named to the Big South's 2023-2024 Preseason All-Conference First-Team on Oct. 17. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Nicholas returns to the Runnin' Bulldogs following a season in which he earned second team all-conference honors. Nicholas played in 31 games making 28 starts in 2022-2023. He averaged 12.5 points per game, the 14th most in the Big South Conference and dished out 98 assists, the seventh most in the Big South, averaging 3.2 assists per game. He also recorded 41 steals, the sixth most in the Big South. Julien Soumaoro played in 30 games last season while starting in 24 games for 798 minutes. He led the team in 3-point makes (55) and percentage (37.7) Lucas Stieber played in played in all 31 games making seven starts on the year with an average of 23.5 minutes per game. He was second on the team in 3-point percentage going 26-72 (36.1) from deep. Quest Aldridge played in 31 games with four starts averaging 6.1 points and 2.2 rebounds per game. Caleb Robinson played in 31 games averaging 8.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Following their trip to Fayetteville, Gardner-Webb will continue on to round out their opening week at Baylor University on Sunday, Nov. 12. This will the second of two power five match ups for the Runnin' Bulldogs. GWU will then prepare to travel to Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada for match ups with Weber State University (Nov. 17), Colgate University (Nov. 18), and Yale University (Nov. 19) as part of the Atlantic Slam Tournament.
 
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.