BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb will attempt to make a move up in the Big South standings Thursday night when it hosts second-place Longwood at 7:00 pm.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (15-13, 10-6 Big South) sit just one game behind the Lancers (19-10, 11-5 Big South) and Radford with two games remaining in the regular season.
The stakes are high and the game will be contested on a national stage, as ESPNU will air the game live from Paul Porter Arena. Matt Schick and Paul Biancardi will provide that call on a network that is available in more than 50 million households.
Gardner-Webb will also honor five seniors prior to opening tip and fans are encouraged to arrive early to cheer on the quintet of
Ludovic Dufeal (Saint-Joseph, Martinique),
Sammy Itodo (Kaduna, Nigeria),
Kareem Reid (Queens, N.Y.),
John Roghelia (Wilmington, N.C.) and
Anthony Selden (Boston, Mass.).
Tickets can be purchased
online at GWUSports.com. Prices are $10 for adults and $5 for non-Gardner-Webb students.
Thursday marks Longwood's first visit to Paul Porter Arena since February 1, 2020 – with the Lancers took an overtime win for their first victory in the building. Each of the last four games in the series have been played in Farmville, Va., including a 64-59 loss for Gardner-Webb on January 18 this season. All have been decided by seven points or less.
The Runnin' Bulldogs have been led this season by junior guard
DQ Nicholas (12.4 ppg), who also leads the team with 3.1 assists per game. Selden (11.2 ppg) and Reid (10.6 ppg) are also averaging in double figures, with
Julien Soumaoro (9.4 ppg) close behind.
Soumaoro had a team-high 18 points in the January 18 game in Farmville.
Longwood enters Thursday's game fresh off a big home win over Radford in the team's final game in historic Willett Hall. Guards Isaiah Wilkins (12.8 ppg) and DeShaun Wade (9.8 ppg) pace the Lancers' offensively.
Also a strong defensive team, Longwood is limiting foes to just 65.5 points per game overall this season. The team has won four of its past five games after a three-game slide that started in late January.
In addition to the national television broadcast, Thursday's radio call will air on ESPNCLT.com, with Phil Constantino and Jim Morrison.
