BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb University men's basketball team is set to begin a three-game road trip against the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs on Dec. 19 at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday's game will stream live on ESPN+ (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 MOCS
The Chattanooga Mocs enter this Tuesday's game with an overall record of 7-3 under first year Head Coach Dan Earl. They have won two games in a row most recently defeating Alabama A&M University on the road in Huntsville by a final of 88-72. They won four straight games to open the season including a trip to the University of Louisville (Nov. 10) where the Mocs came away with an 81-71 victory. The Mocs are led in scoring by sophomore guard Honor Huff with 176 points. Last season the Mocs posted a record of 18-17 falling in the Southern Conference Championship tournament final to Furman University 88-79. Gardner-Webb has a 1-1 record against Chattanooga most recently falling to the Mocs last season in Paul Porter Arena 82-71 (Dec. 3, 2022). The only other meeting was on Nov. 27, 2011 in McKenzie Arena where the Runnin' Bulldogs won 76-74.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Most recently, Gardner-Webb was bested by Appalachian State University in the Greensboro Coliseum Complex (Dec. 16). The Runnin' Bulldogs took advantage of a slow start by the Mountaineers building an early 17-13 lead in the opening nine minutes. This came behind early three pointers by Quest Aldridge, Julien Soumaoro and early jumpers by DQ Nicholas. The 'Dawgs hung on to their early lead with solid defensive rebounding and quick points in transition. Gardner-Webb maintained the lead extending it back to five with 2:31 left on a three from Lucas Stieber. Jordan Marsh of App State cut into the lead to make it 31-29 GWU at the half. 
 
Appalachian State gained their first lead of the game since the opening seconds at the beginning the second half netting a trio of threes. From there, the Mountaineers went on a 15-6 run in the first four and a half minutes. Their lead would grow to 20 just under the 10-minute mark, with the 'Dawgs answering the Mountaineers shot-per-shot in the next five minutes. Gardner-Webb continued to battle late in the contest with App State getting the 80-59 win.
 
'DAWG WATCH
Gardner-Webb is averaging 72.5 points-per-game, 11.2 assists, 41.4 rebounds per game, and 6.1 steals. The Runnin' Bulldogs' top five scorers 12 games into the season are Robinson (172), Soumaoro (164), Nicholas (127), Lucas Stieber (64 and Brendan Mykalcio (61) who is tied with Isaiah Richards (61). Robinson leads also leads the 'Dawgs in rebounding with 77. He is followed by Ademide Badmus (52), Stieber (51), Mykalcio (49) and Cheikna Sissoko (48). Other notables include Sissoko leading the team in blocks with eight, Soumaoro leading in steals with 15 and Nicholas leading in assists with 32.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
The Runnin' Bulldogs will continue their road trip later this week against the University of Akron on Thursday, Dec. 21 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.