BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Trailing by as many as 11 points in the first half, the Gardner-Webb (2-2) men's basketball team pulled out a thrilling 80-79 win over visiting Elon (1-2) on Friday night inside Paul Porter Arena.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs turned in balanced scoring with four players reaching double-figures, including a team-high from sophomore guard Darryl Simmons II. Junior gurard Pharrell Boyogueno contributed his best game of the season with 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Graduate guard Anthony Selden and sophomore guard Shahar Lazart chipped in 13 and 10 points, respectively.
 
Redshirt-senior forward Isaiah Richards nearly missed a double-double, finishing with eight points and a game-high seven boards. Gardner-Webb controlled the glass, grabbing 34 rebounds compared to 33 for the Phoenix.
 
Selden kickstarted the offense for GWU with a corner three just over a minute into the opening half. However, Elon scored nine of the next 11 points while earning a 9-5 lead, but the game remained back-and-forth affair before a quick 6-0 burst by the Phoenix pushed the visitors ahead 19-13 with 13:35 left in the half.
 
After Elon built a 30-19 lead, Boyogueno knocked down a pair at the charity stripe, igniting a 13-3 run, capped by a tough layup from Selden, trimming the deficit to a single point with four to play.
 
The Phoenix extended the lead back to seven (39-32) following six straight, but an old-fashioned three-point play from freshman guard Colin Hawkins gave Gardner-Webb its first lead since the opening basket, 40-39. However, Elon netted the final two points of the half while taking a 41-40 lead into the break.
 
Gardner-Webb came out strong to begin the second, receiving a dial from distance by Simmons and a layup out of the hands of senior forward Ademide Badmus, matching the biggest lead at 45-42.
 
From that point, the game would see a series of ties and lead changes as neither team could push ahead by more than a single possession. With the score knotted at 55-all, Elon created separation following a run of 11-2 midway through the frame.
 
Hawkins helped fuel a push by the 'Dawgs, scoring five points during an 11-3 run by the home team, pulling GWU to within a point at the under-8 media timeout. Graduate forward Jamaine Mann connected on a layup to even the score at 73, but Elon continued to answer the call with points of its own down the stretch.
 
TK Simpkins put the Phoenix ahead by four with 3:18 on the clock, but that would be the last lead of the game for Elon, as Gardner-Webb closed the game on a dominant 7-2 run, aided by a stingy defense.
 
Boyogueno cashed in smooth jumper before Selden collected a hoop-and-harm, pushing the Runnin' Bulldogs ahead 78-77 late in the stanza. That lead ballooned to 80-77 before a pair of free throws and smothering defense on the final possession allowed the 'Dawgs to hang on for the narrowest of victories, 80-79.
 
Gardner-Webb will return to action on Tuesday, November 19, traveling to the Queen City of Charlotte, N.C. to face Charlotte. Tip for that contest is slated for 7 p.m.