BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb University men's basketball team will continue their non-conference slate on Saturday, Dec. 16 in Greensboro, N.C. against the Appalachian State University Mountaineers at 4:00 p.m. Saturday's game will radio broadcast live on 730 The Game (ESPN Charlotte 730 AM), the Varsity Network App, and GWUSports.com/listenlive,. "The Voice of the Runnin' Bulldogs" Phil Constantino and Chip Carter will be on the call for radio.
 
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
The Appalachian State Mountaineers enter this Saturday's game with an overall record of 8-2. They have won their last seven games in a row. Most recently they defeated the Queens University of Charlotte Royals 93-81. Their most notable win this season was at home against Auburn University on Dec. 3 by a final of 69-64. Last season the Mountaineers posted a record of 16-16 falling in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference championship tournament. Head Coach Dustin Kerns is in his fourth season at the helm of the Appalachian State men's basketball program with overall record of 77-60.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Most recently, Gardner-Webb defeated North Greenville University. The Runnin' Bulldogs opened the game on a 20-10 by the 12:37 mark thanks to early buckets by Cheickna Sissoko, Lucas Stieber and Caleb Robinson. North Greenville began to close the gap behind the first half play of Max Topham. Following a tied game at 22-22 with 9:37 left in the half, the 'Dawgs and Crusaders exchanged the lead twice more. A pair of driving layups from DQ Nicholas and Julien Soumaoro. allowed GWU to build back the lead. Some added free-throw shooting in the closing minutes gave Gardner-Webb a 40-34 lead at the break.
 
Gardner-Webb continued to get the whole team involved early in the second half going on a 15-2 run in the first five minutes also scoring the first 10 unanswered. Robinson and Isaiah Richards kept involved in the scoring down the stretch with Ademide Badmus adding five points of his own in the paint. The Runnin' Bulldogs were led by Soumaoro and Brendan Mykalcio down the stretch before Nicholas added a three in the closing minutes. Gardner-Webb widened their lead to 19 earning a 79-60 win.
 
'DAWG WATCH
Gardner-Webb is averaging 73.7 points-per-game, 41.1 rebounds per game and 12.2 assists. The Runnin' Bulldogs' top five scorers 11 games into the season are Soumaoro (156), Robinson (154), Nicholas (115), Mykalcio (61) and Stieber (16). Robinson leads Gardner-Webb in rebounding with 69. He is followed by Badmus (48), Mykalcio (47), Sissoko (45), and Stieber (42). Other notables include Sissoko leading the team in blocks with eight, Soumaoro leading in steals with 14 and Nicholas leading in assists with 31.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
The Runnin' Bulldogs will next travel to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for a match up on Tuesday, Dec. 19 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.