Thursday, November 25, 2021

Game #7 - at Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs

The Cats travel to Boiling Springs, NC to face the second consecutive Big South opponent, Garder-Webb University


When: Saturday, Nov. 27th, 2021 
Time: 2:00 pm 
Where: Paul Porter Arena (4,500), Boiling Springs, NC 
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
TV/Video: ESPN+
Size: 3,600 students
Location: Boiling Springs, NC

Conference: Big South Conference
Nickname: Runnin' Bulldogs
Colors: Scarlet and black
Fan Message Board: GWU Fan Message Board
GWU Record:  2-3 overall, 2-0 home, 0-3 away, 0-0 Big South

The Series: The Cats and runnin' dogs have met 14 times on the basketball court in a series that started in 1970. Western owns a 6-8 record overall vs. GWU. The Bulldogs have won 4 of the last 6 games, but the Cats have won 2 of the last three, most recently a 71-59 victory, back in Nov. 2019.

On Saturday afternoon, the Cats will meet their second Big South opponent in a row, as Western Carolina travels to Boiling Springs to face the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs. Gardner-Webb is currently 1-3 on the season, but has one game prior to the WCU meeting, against Columbia International. Kareem Reid, and Lance Terry lead the Bulldog scoring with 14 point averages, while D'Maurian Williams leads their rebounding with a 6.3 rebound average per game. The Runnin' Bulldogs are averaging 70 points per game, but this is average is squeed due to the 100-38 win over Carver College last Saturday.

Key Returners: Jordan Sears, Lance Terry, D'Maurian Williams, Kareem Reid, Ludovic Dufeal, Anthony Selden
Key Losses: Jaheam Cornwall, Jacob Falko, Jamaine Mann
Key Newcomers: Zion Williams (UMKC), Julien Soumaoro, Brendan Mykalcio, Leon Williams

Since Tim Craft took over in 2013, the Bulldogs have yet to finish below .500 in league play, consistency matched only by Winthrop and Radford. That institutional success, coupled with the talent supply Craft returns, warrants a spot in ‘Tier 1’ of the Big South (Winthrop, Campbell, UNCA, Gardner-Webb). It may look like a younger team, relative to the extra old Big South counterparts but the key contributors are experienced and the rookies (Soumaoro, plus Brendan Mykalcio and Leon Williams) have potential.

The Bulldogs drew 389 fans for their home opener against Carver College, then on Wednesday night against Columbia International, the Runnin' Bulldogs drew 502 fans in Paul Porter Arena as they captured a 90-78 victory over their second straight non-Division I opponent.  






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