CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb University (2-3) men's basketball dropped a low-scoring 60-54 affair at Charlotte (3-1) on Tuesday evening inside Halton Arena.
 
Redshirt-sophomore Shahar Lazar produced his best game of the season, pouring in a team-high 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including 2-for-3 from distance. Graduate guard Anthony Selden also added 12 points in the loss. Redshirt-senior forward Isaiah Richards pulled down a game-high nine boards.
 
Charlotte jumped ahead early, scoring 12 of the first 15 points, but a pair of jumpers by Selden bookended an 11-2 burst by the Runnin' Bulldogs while knotting the score at 14-all with 7:07 remaining in the first half.
 
The 49ers seized control once more with back-to-back three-pointers before a dial from distance out of the hand of sophomore guard Darryl Simmons II sparked an 11-0 run, giving GWU its biggest lead of the game, 25-20.
 
However, Charlotte outscored the 'Dawgs 8-2 down the stretch while taking a minimal 28-27 lead into halftime.
 
The second half was a back-and-forth affair as both teams traded baskets during the onset. Lazar collected an offensive rebound and putback to give the Runnin' Bulldogs a 35-32 advantage less than four minutes in.
 
Gardner-Webb looked poised to create separation after a trio of free throws from freshman guard Colin Hawkins, but the 49ers battled back with five in a row, capped by a three from Kylan Blackmon, taking a 42-41 lead. The game would reach even once more, 44-44, but the Black and Red could not get over the hump with Charlotte taking the lead for good following a Giancarlo Rosado layup.
 
From that point, the Runnin' Bulldogs were able to come as close as a single point before Charlotte finished the game on a 5-0 run.
 
Gardner-Webb will return to action on Wednesday, November 27, traveling to Cancun, Mexico for the Cancun Classic. The Runnin' Bulldogs will take on Southeast Louisiana on day one action.