Nido & Mariana Qubein Arena | 7:00 PM | Big South Play
📍 Setting the Stage
The Panthers stay home riding momentum after a strong stretch of connected play. High Point is 6–0 in its last six, 2–0 in conference, 10–1 at home, and still carrying a 16-game winning streak against the Big South.
Across the floor stands a program in a very different place.
The Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs enter at 2–15 overall, 0–2 in league play, ranked near dead last nationally (KenPom/NET in the ~360 range).
This might be the most dichotomous matchup in the Big South; a true battle between the haves and the have-nots. This High Point men’s team is clearly a program on the rise, mirroring the broader ascent of HPU athletics. NIL investment is real, ambitions are clear, and infrastructure is being built to compete at a higher mid-major level.
Meanwhile, the picture in Boiling Springs is the polar opposite. Under Tim Craft, the Runnin’ Bulldogs were a consistent Big South contender and captured the conference tournament in 2019. Jeremy Luther has not been able to sustain that level of success, and the deck appears stacked against him. Gardner-Webb’s NIL resources are minimal, and it’s an open secret that the school has explored dropping to a lower division to avoid the escalating financial arms race.
Gardner-Webb is prioritizing things beyond athletics in the evolving landscape of college sports and that’s okay. But it does create a collision between two programs on sharply divergent paths.
On paper, this is a significant mismatch.
High Point still cannot afford to treat it that way.
📉 Opponent Overview: Gardner-Webb
This is about as rough a profile as you’ll find in Division I:
- No Division I wins (only victories vs Brevard and Toccoa Falls)
- Lost at home to North Greenville (D2)
- Ranked 359th–360th nationally in most efficiency metrics
- Allowing 87.7 PPG, with opponents shooting 50%+ from the field
- Significant rebounding deficit and negative turnover margin
But here’s the wrinkle: Gardner-Webb has started fast in Big South play.
- At Winthrop: led by 20 in the first half, scored 50 points, then collapsed late
- vs Charleston Southern: led by 12 at halftime, lost by double digits
They haven’t sustained success but they’ve shown they will come out swinging.
🧱 TEAM IDENTITY: WHAT GARDNER-WEBB IS
Gardner-Webb teams under Jeremy Luther are built to manufacture chaos and momentum, not control games for 40 minutes.
They:
- Play fast and emotionally, especially early
- Lean heavily into perimeter shooting and pace
- Apply full-court pressure and aggressive ball harassment
- Try to create offense via turnovers and quick-hitting runs
- Accept defensive risk in exchange for tempo and disruption
They do not defend efficiently.
They do not rebound well.
They do not sustain execution across halves.
But they can shoot you into a hole if you’re not locked in.
They are front-loaded with burst scoring, early confidence, and the belief that if they can make the game uncomfortable quickly, maybe the opponent blinks. When that early punch lands, they play freer. When it doesn’t, the cracks widen fast.
This is a team built to surprise early, not survive late.
🧩 Key Bulldogs to Know
⭐ Spence Sims (6’1 Fr G) — The Flamethrower
Multiple Big South Freshman of the Week honors. Just dropped 29 at Winthrop, including 7-for-12 from three.
HPU Key: No rhythm looks. Make him drive into bodies. Don’t let him shoot them into this game.
⭐ Jacob Hogarth (6’9 So F) — The Interior Piece
Team leader in points and rebounds. Efficient finisher and physical on the glass.
HPU Key: Win the paint early. Don’t let him settle in.
⭐ Jacob Hudson (6’2 So G) — The Connector
Secondary scorer and ball-handler who pushes pace when confident.
HPU Key: Pressure without fouling. Force decisions.
⭐ Curtis Williams III (6’7 Jr G/F) — The Utility Wing
Versatile body playing minutes more by necessity than production.
HPU Key: Make him score over length — not just exist.
Bottom line: Depth is thin. When the starters fade, so does Gardner-Webb.
📊 Matchup Snapshot
For High Point:
- Survive the opening five minutes without panic
- Clean defensive rebounding to end possessions
- Disciplined closeouts on shooters (especially Sims)
- Punish pressure with ball movement, not dribbling
- Get paint touches early to sap Gardner-Webb’s belief
For Gardner-Webb:
- Hot perimeter shooting to offset efficiency and talent gaps
- Forcing turnovers to generate transition points
- Make HPU uncomfortable and get under their skin
- Staying out of foul trouble despite aggressive defense
- Hanging around long enough where High Point starts to press
This game will be decided by whether Gardner-Webb’s early chaos lasts or gets absorbed and whether High Point wants to be great or rest on their laurels.
🧠 Coaching Context
Jeremy Luther remains in the culture-building phase of his tenure, following the long and successful era of his longtime friend, Tim Craft. Where Craft’s teams were methodical, physical, and structured, Luther’s teams are emotional, fast, and aggressive, sometimes to a fault.
The vision is clear:
- Play faster
- Play harder
- Play without fear
The execution is not there yet.
High Point, by contrast, is operating from a place of stability and confidence. The Panthers are deeper, more efficient, and far more comfortable closing games. Over the last couple games they’ve proven they can absorb runs, respond to pressure, and reassert control when momentum wavers.
The question isn’t whether Gardner-Webb will play with belief, they will.
The question is whether High Point treats the early storm seriously enough to snuff it out.
If the Panthers stay composed, value possessions, and don’t let emotion replace execution, the talent gap will show decisively.
So far Clayman has had his squad prepared to dominate inferior opponents. He’ll need them locked in again for this game. It was easy to get up for an away game in Asheville to kick off conference play or against a bitter rival in Longwood. It might be harder to get that level of attention and care against these Bulldogs.
This is a test of focus, not ability.
🗝️ Keys for High Point
1️⃣ Survive the opening burst — GWU wants chaos early
2️⃣ Shoot the ball cleanly — punish over-help and pressure
3️⃣ Dominate the defensive glass — one-and-done possessions
4️⃣ Limit free throws — don’t bail out bad offense
5️⃣ Find post scoring early — break their resistance inside
If High Point stays disciplined, this becomes a talent problem Gardner-Webb can’t solve.
🧠 Context That Matters
- HPU has won five straight vs GWU
- Last three margins: +21, +33, +41
- 41–4 at home in the Qubein Center since 2023–24
The Bulldogs will trip someone in this league eventually.
This cannot be the night.
One storyline to monitor: Cam Fletcher’s status. After missing a second game and not being seen on the bench, his availability remains uncertain. High Point has survived — and thrived — regardless, but his presence raises the ceiling.
🔮 Toothsayer’s Take
This is the kind of game where focus matters more than talent.
Gardner-Webb will play loose early.
They’ll shoot without fear.
They’ll believe in themselves no matter what the stats — or the line — say.
But…
High Point is better.
High Point is deeper.
High Point is at home.
If the Panthers stay connected defensively and don’t let Sims ignite the building, this one tilts hard — fast.
Prediction:
High Point 92, Gardner-Webb 66
Pantherstooth 
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