NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Gardner-Webb (4-4) men's basketball team wrapped up the 2024 Cancun Classic with a tough 83-74 loss at Belmont (6-2) on Friday evening inside the Curb Events Center.
 
Sophomore guard Darryl Simmons II led the way for the Runnin' Bulldogs with a game-high 23 points while graduate guard Anthony Selden finished with 19 points and six rebounds. Redshirt0-senior Isaiah Richards posted his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 boards.
 
It was all Gardnerf-Webb early on as the Runnin' Bulldogs raced out to a commanding 19-7 lead following a layup from freshman Colin Hawkins. During the spurt, GWU owned the glass, putting in eight second chance points.
 
However, Belmont used just under three minutes of game time to trim the score to 19-14 after ripping off seven in a row. Senior Brendan Mykalcio put an end to the run with a tough putback before Selden dialed distance, running the score back to a double-digit lead for the 'Dawgs, 24-14.
 
Simmons connected on a layup to extend the advantage to 31-18 for the visitors, but the Bruins came back with a 10-0 run to close to within a single possession. Gardner-Webb answered the call, outscoring BU 13-9 down the stretch while taking a 44-37 lead into the half.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs continued to maintain a lead to begin the second half as Simmons knocked down of his three, three-pointers to give GWU a 52-45 lead with less than 15 to play. However, Belmont tallied the next nine points, taking its first lead of the contest, 54-52.
 
That lead did not last for long as Simmons nailed another shot from beyond the arc followed by a pair of free throws from Selden, running the score to 59-56 in favor of Gardner-Webb.
 
A steal and fastbreak dunk from the Bruins' Sam Orme ignited a pair of lead changes over the next minute on the clock before Belmont seized control of the game with a pivotal 12-0 scoring run, building its biggest lead of the game, 72-61, with 4:49 on the clock.
 
From that point, the Runnin' Bulldogs could only pull to within eight, 76-68, as it dropped the final game of the Cancun Classic.
 
Gardner-Webb returns to the hardwood on Wednesday, December 4, traveling to Spartanburg, S.C. to take on the Terriers of Wofford College. Tip is slated for 7 p.m.