BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb University men's basketball team will complete their non-conference schedule on Saturday, Dec. 30 at 2:00 p.m. on the road against the Rams of Virginia Commonwealth University. Saturday'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 RAMS
The VCU Rams enter Saturday's game with an overall record of 7-5. They have won three games in a row most recently defeating the University of Maryland Eastern Shore 75-51 (Dec. 22). VCU have played nine games inside the Stuart C. Siegel Center so far this season and are 6-3 in those games. Gardner-Webb is the second Big South Conference opponent on VCU's non-conference schedule as they defeated Radford University 73-50 on Nov. 15. Last season the Rams posted a record of 27-8 winning the Atlantic 10 Conference championship tournament over the University of Dayton before falling in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Saint Mary's College of California. Head Coach Ryan Odom is in his first season at the helm of the VCU program after former Head Coach Mike Rhoades departed for the Pennsylvania State University following last season.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Just prior to the holiday break, Gardner-Webb fell in overtime to the University of Akron (Dec. 21). Following a slow start, the Runnin' Bulldogs built an early lead going on a 16-12 run in the opening eight minutes of the ballgame. Quest Aldridge, Julien Soumaoro and Caleb Robinson allowed the 'Dawgs to maintain a three-point lead at 28-25 by the 6:58 minute mark. Akron took the lead at the 4:19 mark. Tavari Johnson extended the lead to 37-33 for the Zips at the by the final media timeout of the half. Some key shooting in the final minutes allowed Akron to take a 47-38 lead into halftime.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs were able to keep Akron from pulling away early in the second half as the Zips battled to maintain a 59-49 lead in the opening five minutes. Isaiah Richards capped a run with a slam to put the 'Dawgs within one possession with 12:35 to play. Following a three-point play the Runnin' Bulldogs tied in at 71-71 with just under 7:44 to play after being down by 13. Richards was able to sink a put back layup to take the lead for Gardner-Webb 74-73 with just under seven to play. The Zips retook the lead 77-74 as the game came to the final media timeout. Soumaoro and DQ Nicholas allowed the 'Dawgs to tie the game again at 79. The game was tied again at 81 and again at 84 in the final two minutes. Following a pair of empty possessions, regulation ended 84-84.
 
Akron netted a trio of free throws by the midway point of the five-minute overtime period. Richards jammed it home to cut the lead to one point. Akron was able to take advantage of free throws and a three to extend the lead to 92-86. A Nicholas free throw and a three by Lucas Stieber cut the Zips lead to 92-90. Akron was able to score a pair of free throws to win the game by a final of 94-90.
 
'DAWG WATCH
Gardner-Webb is averaging 73.3 points-per-game, 11.7 assists, 40.7 rebounds per game, and 6.1 steals. The Runnin' Bulldogs' top five scorers 14 games into the season are Soumaoro (204), Robinson, (188), Nicholas (145), Stieber (87) and Aldridge (81). Robinson leads also leads the 'Dawgs in rebounding with 86. He is followed by Stieber (62), Richards (59), Ademide Badmus (58), and Brendan Mykalcio (52) who is also tied with Nicholas. Other notables include Cheickna Sissoko leading the team in blocks with eight, Soumaoro leading in steals with 19 and Nicholas leading in assists with 37.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
The Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs will get their Big South Conference schedule underway on Jan. 6 at High Point University on 2:00 p.m. GWU will return home on Wednesday, Jan. 10 to host Charleston Southern University 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.