BOILING SPRINGS. N.C. – The Gardner-Webb University men's basketball team defeated the Catamounts of Western Carolina University on Saturday night by a final score of 82-77. The Runnin' Bulldogs won handing WCU their first loss of the season.
 
"You try to stay with it, stay with what you work on every day.", said coach Craft. "You try to stay together through the ups and the downs through 40 minutes. Really, I thought the end of the first half was critical. To close that gap to seven before the half. Then it was just a great basketball game back and forth and then we really had a great run there to go up eight or 10. It was tough down the stretch they made it hard on us. They were scoring so quick, but proud of the guys. Good win for our team."
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs and Catamounts went shot for shot early in the ballgame. WCU built a slight lead on a 14-9 run behind the shooting of Vonterius Woolbright. DQ Nicholas, Ademide Badmus and Caleb Robinson began to heat up as the 'Dawgs took advantage of some strong defensive stops and rebounding. Gardner-Webb pulled to within 10 points at the 5:43 minute mark. Due to some solid free throw shooting late in the first, Western Carolina led just 37-30 at the break.
 
The 'Dawgs kept pace even as WCU extended the lead back to eight by the 14:37 minute mark. Caleb Robinson heated up again in the second half to battle back for Gardner-Webb. DQ Nicholas hit a three-pointer with 8:39 to tie the game. The Runnin' Bulldogs then built a lead of their own with Quest Aldridge hitting a clutch corner three to extend it to eight points before Robinson made it a 10-point lead. The Catamounts cut into the lead in the final minute of the contest. In the final 13 seconds DQ Nicholas converted a three-point play before Isaiah Richard iced the game with a pair of free-throws. Gardner-Webb won 82-77.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Caleb Robinson scored a Gardner-Webb career high of 29 points, which led the team in Saturday's win. It was his seventh double-digit performance of the season so far. He hit two three-pointers, went 11-12 from the stripe and had 13 rebounds. He was joined on the score sheet by DQ Nicholas who tallied 13 and Julien Soumaoro who had 12. Ademide Badmus was second on the team in rebounding with seven and Isaiah Richards and Lucas Stieber were tied for third in rebounding with five each. Stieber had nine points on the night himself.
 
UP NEXT
Gardner-Webb will continue this home stand against Wofford College on Dec. 6 at 7:00 p.m.