BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. — In an exhilarating matchup on Friday night, Gardner-Webb managed to narrowly defeat Elon with a score of 80-79. Darryl Simmons II was a key contributor for the Runnin’ Bulldogs, finishing the game with 15 points and five rebounds.

Pharell Boyogueno also made significant contributions, scoring 14 points on an efficient 5-for-8 shooting, which included two successful 3-pointers on five attempts. Anthony Seldon added 13 points, though he struggled with his shooting, going 3-for-12 from the field, including just one made 3-pointer out of six tries. However, he was effective at the free-throw line, hitting 6 of 7 attempts.

On the other side, Nick Dorn shined for the Phoenix, leading his team with 17 points and grabbing six rebounds. TK Simpkins matched Dorn’s scoring output with another 17 points, along with two steals, while TJ Simpkins contributed 13 points, scoring the final bucket of the game with a layup just 1:11 remaining on the clock.

During the first half, Seldon made a notable impact by scoring 10 points, but Gardner-Webb found itself trailing 41-40 at halftime. In the second half, Boyogueno stepped up, adding nine points to help the team secure the win. This tightly contested second half saw seven lead changes and four pivotal ties, underscoring the competitive nature of the game.

Overall, this thrilling encounter highlighted the intense rivalry between the two programs, with Gardner-Webb claiming a hard-fought victory that improves their record to 2-2. Meanwhile, Elon falls to 1-2 as they continue to search for their rhythm in the early part of the season.