Charleston Southern defeats Gardner-Webb 75-66

The Charleston Southern Buccaneers dominated the first half, outscoring the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs 40-28, and while the Bulldogs made a push in the second half, scoring 38 points to the Buccaneers' 35, it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit, as Charleston Southern took the game 75-66. A'lahn Sumler was the star of the show, scoring 27 points and grabbing 7 rebounds, including 15 points in the first half to help the Buccaneers build their lead. The Buccaneers' strong first half was a continuation of their recent trend, as they have averaged 77.6 points per game over their last 5 contests, although they have struggled on defense, allowing 84.2 points per game over that same stretch. In fact, the Buccaneers have been outscored by an average of 6.6 points per game over their last 5 games, going 1-4 in that stretch, with their only win coming against Presbyterian, 84-67.

The Runnin' Bulldogs, on the other hand, have struggled mightily, losing all 5 of their last games, including an 87-112 drubbing at the hands of High Point and an 85-103 loss to Winthrop. They have averaged just 70 points per game over that stretch, while allowing a staggering 87.6 points per game, resulting in an average margin of defeat of 17.6 points. Despite their struggles, the Runnin' Bulldogs did show some fight in the second half, with Jamias Ferere scoring 10 of his 15 points after the break, and Jacob Hogarth adding 8 of his 11 points in the second half, to go along with his 11 rebounds. However, it was too little, too late, as the Buccaneers' first-half lead proved too much to overcome.

The Buccaneers' A'lahn Sumler was the clear star of the game, hitting several big shots, including a pair of three-pointers, to help his team build their first-half lead. He also did a great job of getting to the free-throw line, where he was 7-8 on the night. Trent Coleman added 12 points for the Buccaneers, although he struggled from beyond the arc, going just 2-7 from three-point range. For the Runnin' Bulldogs, Jamias Ferere and Jacob Hudson each scored 15 points, with Ferere adding 7 rebounds, while Hogarth's 11 points and 11 rebounds made him a force to be reckoned with in the paint. However, the Runnin' Bulldogs' struggles from beyond the arc, where they shot just 3-14, ultimately proved too much to overcome.

The Buccaneers' win was not a surprise, given their recent form and the fact that they were facing a struggling Runnin' Bulldogs team. In fact, CHD Scout predicted a 26.1-point victory for the Buccaneers, and while the actual margin of victory was just 9 points, the Buccaneers were still able to come out on top.

The reason the prediction was correct, despite the smaller-than-expected margin of victory, was that the Buccaneers were able to dominate the paint, outscoring the Runnin' Bulldogs 32-24 in the paint, and outrebounding them 37-34. The Buccaneers also did a great job of taking care of the ball, committing just 12 turnovers, while the Runnin' Bulldogs committed 15. This allowed the Buccaneers to control the tempo of the game and limit the Runnin' Bulldogs' scoring opportunities.

The win was an important one for the Buccaneers, as they look to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the season. With a record of 13-15, they are still a long shot to make the NCAA tournament, but they are still in the hunt for a postseason berth. The loss, on the other hand, was a devastating blow to the Runnin' Bulldogs' already slim postseason hopes, as they fell to 3-25 on the season. The Runnin' Bulldogs have now lost 10 straight games, and 15 of their last 16, and it's hard to see them turning things around at this point.

The win did little to change the Buccaneers' tournament picture, as they are still a long shot to make the NCAA tournament, but it did help them to solidify their position as one of the top teams in their conference. The loss, on the other hand, was a significant blow to the Runnin' Bulldogs' already slim postseason hopes, and it's hard to see them making a run in the conference tournament. The Buccaneers' NET ranking of 245 is still a long way from the top 100, but they are at least heading in the right direction, having gone 1-4 over their last 5 games. The Runnin' Bulldogs, on the other hand, are ranked 363, and it's hard to see them making a significant move up the rankings at this point. The game was a Quadrant 4 contest for both teams, and while the win was important for the Buccaneers, it's not going to do much to boost their tournament resume.

The Buccaneers want to build on this win as they head into their next game, while the Runnin' Bulldogs will try to regroup and figure out how to turn their season around. The Buccaneers have a few winnable games on their schedule, and if they can take care of business, they may be able to make a run in the conference tournament. The Runnin' Bulldogs, on the other hand, are running out of time, and they need to start winning games soon if they want to have any chance of making a postseason run. With just a few games left on the schedule, the pressure is on for both teams to perform, and it will be interesting to see how they respond to the challenge. The Buccaneers' recent trend of averaging 77.6 points per game over their last 5 contests is a positive sign, but they need to find a way to tighten up their defense if they want to make a serious run in the conference tournament. The Runnin' Bulldogs, on the other hand, need to find a way to score more consistently, as they have averaged just 70 points per game over their last 5 contests.

In the end, the Buccaneers' win over the Runnin' Bulldogs was an important one, as it helped them to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the season. While the win didn't change their tournament picture significantly, it did help them to solidify their position as one of the top teams in their conference. The loss, on the other hand, was a devastating blow to the Runnin' Bulldogs' already slim postseason hopes, and it's hard to see them making a run in the conference tournament. The game was a Quadrant 4 contest for both teams, and while the win was important for the Buccaneers, it's not going to do much to boost their tournament resume. The Buccaneers want to build on this win as they head into their next game, while the Runnin' Bulldogs will try to regroup and figure out how to turn their season around.