RADFORD, VA. – Senior guard Caleb Robinson grabbed six rebounds and scored a game-high 21 points, including his 1,000^th career point on an emphatic dunk with 6:34 remaining in the opening half, to lead Gardner-Webb past host Radford 74-68 in Big South Conference men's basketball action Wednesday evening.  

The victory is the Runnin' Bulldogs sixth straight inside the Dedmon Center and their second-straight conference win as they improve to 7-12 overall and 2-2 in league play. Radford falls to 11-8 overall and 1-3 in conference play.
 
Senior guard DQ Nicholas added 12 points for the 'Runnin Bulldogs, including a clutch three-point shot with 1:41 remaining as Radford had pulled within two-points 68-66. The 'Dawgs, who shot 50.9% on the night and 43% (10-23) from three-point range, then held off the Highlanders with some clutch free-throw shooting from Lucas Stieber and Taku Youngblood.

"That was a huge shot by DQ," said Gardner Webb head coach Tim Craft. "It's great to see him get it going the past two games shooting the three (point shot). We all know he can make three's, it's great to see him do it well the last two games."

The Runnin' Bulldogs led virtually wire-to-wire in the opening half as they shot 54.5% in the first 20 minutes of the game, including 46.7 % (7-15) from behind the three-point line. The 'Dawgs opened up 18-point leads on two different occasions and led 43-28 at intermission. 

In the second half, Radford opened with a 9-0 run and extended it to 19-5 as the Highlanders pulled within one-point 48-47 with 13:15 remaining. Gardner-Webb then answered with a 20-10 advantage to get some breathing room before Radford's late surge pulled them within two points, setting up the Nicholas heroics.

Craft was pleased with the way his squad began the game and their tenacity to hold off the two Radford second-half surges.

"We came out with great juice tonight," said Craft. "We showed a lot of grit and toughness. We really competed and had great intensity on the defensive end. We were able to get some stops which led to some easy baskets in transition. We shot the ball well and made some three's (point shots)."

Bryan Antoine equaled Robinson with a game-high 21 points, Chandler Turner added 12 points and Justin Archer chipped in 10 points for Radford which shot 46 % on the night and 35.7% from behind the three-point arch. The Highlanders came into the night shooting 52 % from the floor and 43% from three at home inside the Dedmond Center.

Gardner-Webb outscored Radford  34-32 in the paint and had a 36-28 advantage on the glass, including 27 defensive rebounds.
 
Up Next
Gardner Webb will return to Boiling Springs for its next game vs rival Winthrop on Saturday. Tip-off is slated for 1PM at Paul Porter Arena.