BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb (4-7) University men's basketball team dropped an 85-83 contest to Queens University of Charlotte (6-5) on Saturday afternoon inside Paul Porter Arena.
Sophomore guard
Darryl Simmons II led the Runnin' Bulldogs with a 23-point performance on 10-of-16 shooting. Graduate forward
Jamaine Mann also chipped in 18 points and a team-high seven boards.
Gardner-Webb's Mann opened the game with a quick turnaround in the lane 11 seconds into the game, but Queens came back with an 11-4 run to control the game early in the opening period.
Graduate guard
Anthony Selden knocked down a three to pull the home team to within 11-9 before a thunderous fastbreak dunk by Mann evened the contest at 17-all with 9:45 on the clock.
However, Queens ripped off seven in a row while gaining back control of the period. The 'Dawgs continued to battle, pulling to within a single point, 29-28. The Royals answered that burst with a 10-2 run to lead 39-30. Junior guard
Pharrell Boyogueno drilled a triple, but QU's Maban Jabriel countered back with a three of his own, sending the visitors into the locker room leading 44-36.
Queens built its biggest lead of the game after recording the first four points of the second half. That double-digit lead remained intact until a quick 8-2 run by GWU closed the gap to 55-50 with just over 13 minutes left to play.
The Royals continued to control the game, knocking in crucial baskets to cut short Gardner-Webb runs. Trailing 65-56, the Runnin' Bulldogs tallied 13 of the next 17 points to pull even at 69-all with less than seven minutes on the second half clock.
Gardner-Webb would eventually take its first lead, 78-77, since the opening basket of the game following a jumper in the lane by Simmons, but that would be the last advantage GWU had as Queens ended the contest on an 8-5 run to secure the two-point win.
The Runnin' Bulldogs return to action on Tuesday, December 17 as they travel to take on Georgia Southern in a non-conference contest. Tip is set for 7 p.m.
