FARMVILLE, VA – In a record-setting night for the Gardner-Webb men's basketball team, senior guard DQ Nicholas scored a season-high 20 points, dished out five assists, grabbed four rebounds and had two steals to lead the Runnin' Bulldogs past host Longwood 76-64  Wednesday evening inside the brand-new Joan Perry Brock Center.

The victory is the Runnin' Bulldogs fourth-straight conference win and snaps a six-game losing skid to the Lancers, who the "Dawgs last defeated (66-47) on the final day of the 2019 regular-season. 

Gardner-Webb, which set a Big South single-game record for three-point shooting percentage hitting on 12 of 13 shots (92.3%),  improves its record to 9-12 overall and 4-2 in league play.

"I'm really happy the way we're playing right now," said Gardner-Webb head coach Tim Craft, whose team started the game hitting a perfect 11 of 11 on three-points shots which was three shy of the NCAA record of 14-straight set by Ohio State vs Wisconsin back on March 6, 2011.

 "We really challenged our guys tonight," Craft continued. 'We had lost six-straight to these guys (Longwood) and we made a big point of that in the pre-game and everything we did to get ready. Nobody has had as much success against us the past three years as these guys (Longwood). We really wanted to come out and earn some respect and I'm thankful the way the guys played."

In addition to Nicholas, senior guard Quest Aldridge had a stellar night for the Runnin' Bulldogs as he scored 17 points grabbed seven rebounds and hit a season-high 5-5 from behind the three-point line, including a clutch triple with 2:07 remaining and three seconds on the shot clock as Longwood was making a comback and had pulled within nine-points, 71-62.    

Senior guard Caleb Robinson scored 15 points and pulled down three rebounds off the bench for the 'Dawgs while junior guard Julian Soumaoro contributed 12 points and dished out three assists.

The Runnin' Bulldogs, which led 46-29 at intermission, led wire-to-wire as they shot 64.3% in the opening half and 100% (7-7) from deep.
Gardner-Webb, which shot 52% for the game, opened a 21-point lead on three separate occasions with the final one being 59-38 at the 14:54 mark of the second half.

"We had a great start to the game," said Craft. "Our guys did a great job executing our keys to the game. We blocked out, protected the ball and shot the three (point shot) at a high level. I'm very thankful for all those make. It was a good win."

For Longwood, which falls to 14-8 and 2-6 in conference play, junior guard Jonathan Massie scored a team-high 13 points while classmate Wayne Napper followed with 10 points.
Longwood, which had scored 40 points in the paint in 18 of its first 21 games, was held to just 24 points by the Gardner-Webb defense.

The Lancer held a 42-32 advantage on the glass. 

Gardner-Webb converted 10 of 20 (50%) shots from the charity stripe while Longwood was 20-25 (80%)
 
Up Next
Gardner Webb will return to Boiling Springs on Saturday as the Runnin' Bulldogs host USC Upstate in 4 PM tipoff at Paul Porter Arena. The game is part of a HOOPSCOMING doubleheader with the women's team which tips off against US Upstate at 1PM.