Gardner-Webb Faces Setback in High Point Showdown: A Tense Battle in the Big South

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb (7-10, 2-2) men’s basketball squad suffered a significant 96-55 defeat at the hands of league-leading High Point (15-4, 3-1) on Saturday night at the Qubein Center.
 
Sophomore guard Darryl Simmons II was the only Runnin’ Bulldogs player to attain double-digit scoring, concluding the game with 10 points. Three other team members each added seven points. Forwards Jamaine Mann and Isaiah Richards led GWU by securing seven rebounds apiece.
 
The initial stages of the match were closely contested as Simmons sank a three-pointer to give Gardner-Webb a 3-2 advantage with less than a minute elapsed in the first half. However, an 11-2 run by the Panthers established a lead that continued to expand for the remainder of the period.
 
High Point frequently doubled up the ‘Dawgs during the first 20 minutes, taking a commanding 53-23 lead into the halftime break.
 
Confronting their largest deficit of the season, Gardner-Webb opened strong in the second half, with Richards scoring a layup to reduce the gap to 57-32, but a nine-point run by the Panthers extended their lead to 66-32.
 
From that moment on, it was all Purple and White as High Point did not permit the Runnin’ Bulldogs to get closer than 31 points (66-35) on route to their convincing victory.
 
Gardner-Webb will resume play on Wednesday, January 15, heading to Virginia to take on Radford in Big South competition. The start time for that matchup is set for 7 p.m.