PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mex. — Despite a sluggish start in both of their two games in Mexico, Gardner-Webb (4-3) came to life on their trip to Cancun. The Runnin' Bulldogs faced off against Bethune-Cookman (2-5) for the 2024 Cancun Challenge Mayan Division Championship at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya.

Graduate guard Anthony Selden led the way for Gardner-Webb with a career-high 29 points on 10-of-18 shooting to go along with five boards and two assists.

Graduate forward Jamaine Mann and redshirt-sophomore Shahar Lazar chipped in 12 points each while sophomore guard Darryl Simmons II notched 11 points.
Ademide Badmus and Isaiah Richards controlled the glass with nine boards each. The Runnin' Bulldogs outrebounded Bethune-Cookman 46-32. 

Bethune-Cookman jumped out to a fast start, leading 11-1, but by the 16-minute mark in the first half, Gardner-Webb responded with an 8-0 run of its own bringing the score to 11-9.

Gardner-Webb did not stop there and took control of the first half after their initial surge, heading into the locker room with a 43-28 lead. The Bulldogs drained 7-of-11 total shots from beyond the arch. Gardner-Webb standout Anthony Selden lead the charge with 16 points and four rebounds.

In today's matchup at the 2024 Cancun Challenge, the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs faced off against the Bethune-Cookman. The championship game, held at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya in Cancun, Mexico, could prove to be a launching pad for GWU as they move towards conference play.

Selden kept the pace going in the second half, leading to a career-high 29 points in the victory.

Gardner-Webb will complete the last leg of the Cancun Challenge stateside, traveling to Nashville, Tenn. to face off against Belmont on Friday, Nov. 29.