BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb University men's basketball team is set to continue their non-conference slate on Saturday, Dec. 2 at home against the Catamounts of Western Carolina University at 7:00 p.m. Saturday's game is a White Out. The 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. The Voice of the Runnin' Bulldogs Phil Constantino and former Penn State Head Coach Jerry Dunn will be on the ESPN+ broadcast. Mike Foiles will be the call for radio.
 
SCOUTING THE CATAMOUNTS
The Western Carolina Catamounts enter Saturday's match up with a record of 6-0. WCU's wins have come against Dalton State (Nov. 7), Notre Dame (Nov. 11), Middle Tennessee State (Nov. 13), McNeese State (Nov. 18), North Alabama (Nov. 26), and Tennessee Tech (Nov. 28). Last season Western Carolina posted a record of 18-16 and reached the second round of the Southern Conference tournament championship falling to Furman University. Their season ended when they fell against The University of North Carolina at Charlotte in the College Basketball Invitational. Head Coach Justin Gray is in his third season at the helm of the Western Carolina men's basketball program with a record of 35-37. Gardner-Webb has a 10-6 record all-time against the Catamounts. The Runnin' Bulldogs most recently defeated WCU just last season on Nov. 20, 2022 71-55.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Most recently, the 'Dawgs fell 83-80 at the Queens University of Charlotte. The Royals took advantage early starting out with a 12-9 run in the first five minutes of the game. Baskets from Jacobi Sebock and Deyton Albury allowed Queens to take a 10-point lead by the 12:26 minute mark. Four straight buckets by Caleb Robinson got the Runnin' Bulldogs right back in the ballgame coming within three points. A driving layup and free throw by DQ Nicholas tied the game 23-23 with 8:14 left. From there Gardner-Webb and Queens went back and forth exchanging the lead two more times. Key contributions from Nicholas, Robinson, Shahar Lazar and Quest Aldridge allowed GWU to keep pace. Chris Ashby tied the game on a three-pointer making it 42-42 at halftime.
 
Gardner-Webb and Queens went shot for shot to begin the second half with the game tied at 55 by the 15:03 minute mark. Queens went on a 9-2 run to build a seven-point lead. The 'Dawgs clawed back into the game thanks to some key free-throws from DQ Nicholas and Lucas Stieber. Gardner-Webb was able to keep Queens from growing their cushion down the stretch. With 1:09 left to play the game sat tied 78-78. Caleb Robinson answered a bucket from BJ McLaurin to make it 80 all. McLaurin scored the go ahead three in the final 13 seconds to get the win 83-80.
 
'DAWG WATCH
In his 11^th season Gardner-Webb Head Coach Tim Craft is now the most tenured coach in the Big South. Eight games into the season, Gardner-Webb is averaging 73.0 points-per-game, 39.9 rebounds per game, 12.9 assists and 6.4 steals-per-game. Julien Soumaoro and Caleb Robison lead the 'Dawgs in scoring with 102 points each. Both are averaging 12.8 points-per-game. Robinson leads the team in rebounds with 44 averaging 5.5 a game. DQ Nicholas is third in scoring with 72 averaging 9.0 a game and leads the team in assists with 22. He led the team in scoring against Queens with 18 going 12-12 from the free throw line. Brendan Mykalcio is fourth in scoring with 51, and tied for second on the squad in rebounds with 34. He's tied with Cheickna Sissoko. Isaiah Richards is fifth with 46 points, and leads the team in field goal percentage at .818. Among the Runnin' Bulldog freshman, Darryl Simmons II is making his presence known with 39 points and 11 assists thus far.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Gardner-Webb will continue their home stand against Wofford College (Dec. 6), and North Greenville University (Dec. 11). The Runnin' Bulldogs will then take on Appalachian State in Greensboro, N.C. on Dec. 16.
 
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.