Charleston Southern Defeats Gardner-Webb 89-79 in NCAAB Showdown
Wednesday, December 31, 2025, 2:00 PM ET · Paul Porter Arena
Charleston Southern Buccaneers 89, Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs 79, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Charleston Southern Buccaneers vs Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs?
Charleston Southern Buccaneers beat Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs 89-79 at Paul Porter Arena on December 31, 2025.
Who was favored in Charleston Southern Buccaneers vs Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs?
Charleston Southern Buccaneers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -850 (about 89% implied). The favorite won.
In a competitive matchup at Paul Porter Arena, the Charleston Southern Buccaneers secured a victory over the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs with a final score of 89-79. This game highlighted the stark contrast in the teams' recent performances, as Charleston Southern entered the contest with a record of 10-6, while Gardner-Webb struggled with a record of 2-14.
Charleston Southern's recent form has been strong, with a record of 7-3 in their last ten games. They are currently riding a one-game winning streak, having won their most recent game against the Richmond Spiders 77-72. On average, the Buccaneers have scored 86.5 points while allowing 73.7 points in their last ten outings. Their scoring has been particularly impressive, with an average of 94.8 points in their last five games. In contrast, Gardner-Webb has faced significant challenges, managing only a 2-8 record in their last ten games. They are currently on a one-game losing streak, having lost to the Tennessee Volunteers 94-52 in their most recent match. The Runnin' Bulldogs have averaged 69.7 points scored and a concerning 85.0 points allowed during this stretch.
When considering home and away performance, Charleston Southern has excelled at home with a record of 5-0, but they have struggled on the road with a 2-3 record. Gardner-Webb, meanwhile, has a home record of 2-4 and has yet to secure a win away from home, sitting at 0-4.
In terms of head-to-head matchups, Charleston Southern has historically performed well against Gardner-Webb, winning both previous meetings in the 2025 season. The Buccaneers defeated the Runnin' Bulldogs 72-63 on January 2 and again 79-72 on February 8.
Injury updates were not provided in the block, so the impact of any absences on either team remains unclear. However, the betting market reflected Charleston Southern's dominance, with DraftKings setting the spread at 12.5 points in favor of the Buccaneers. The moneyline odds were listed at -850 for Charleston Southern and +575 for Gardner-Webb, indicating a strong belief in the Buccaneers' ability to win.
The game's conditions were not detailed, but the matchup was expected to be fast-paced, given both teams' scoring averages. Viewers were likely to watch for Charleston Southern's offensive efficiency, particularly their ability to capitalize on Gardner-Webb's defensive weaknesses, which have seen them allow an average of 85.0 points in their last ten games.
In the final moments of the game, Charleston Southern maintained their lead, with key plays including a layup by Jesse Hafemeister and crucial free throws from Jamias Ferere and A'lahn Sumler, which helped secure the victory. The final score of 89-79 underscores the Buccaneers' strong performance and their ability to close out the game despite Gardner-Webb's efforts to rally.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | CHSO -12.5 | 163.5 o -115 / u -105 | Charleston Southern Buccaneers -850 · Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs +575 |
Leaders
- PointsNaVuan Peterson17Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs
- AssistsColin Hawkins3Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs
- ReboundsDJ Jefferson6Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs
- PointsA'lahn Sumler29Charleston Southern Buccaneers
- AssistsA'lahn Sumler3Charleston Southern Buccaneers
- ReboundsJesse Hafemeister10Charleston Southern Buccaneers
Recent form
Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs
Last 10: 2-8Streak L169.7 scored · 85 allowed per game2-4 at home
- L52-94at Tennessee VolunteersDec 21
- W105-65vs Toccoa Falls EaglesDec 18
- L57-83vs Wofford TerriersDec 16
- W77-63vs Brevard TornadosDec 13
- L84-88vs Georgia Southern EaglesDec 6
- L74-107at Queens University RoyalsDec 4
- L62-88at UNC Wilmington SeahawksNov 29
- L68-76vs SE Louisiana LionsNov 28
- L51-84vs Navy MidshipmenNov 26
- L67-102at Richmond SpidersNov 23
Charleston Southern Buccaneers
Last 10: 7-3Streak W186.5 scored · 73.7 allowed per game2-3 away
- W77-72at Richmond SpidersDec 28
- L76-84at Furman PaladinsDec 21
- W113-90vs North Florida OspreysDec 18
- W84-44vs South Carolina State BulldogsDec 9
- W124-63vs Warren Wilson OwlsDec 5
- L56-73at UT Martin SkyhawksDec 2
- L62-74at South Carolina GamecocksNov 28
- W93-81vs Piedmont LionsNov 26
- W77-65at East Carolina PiratesNov 22
- W103-91vs IU Indianapolis JaguarsNov 19
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Point | 31-5 | - | 15-1 |
| Winthrop | 23-11 | 2 | 13-3 |
| Radford | 16-16 | 6 | 9-7 |
| Longwood | 16-16 | 7 | 8-8 |
| UNC Asheville | 15-17 | 7 | 8-8 |
| Presbyterian | 15-18 | 8 | 7-9 |
| Charleston Southern | 15-17 | 9 | 6-10 |
| South Carolina Upstate | 13-19 | 10 | 5-11 |
| Gardner-Webb | 4-29 | 14 | 1-15 |
Box score
| Stat | Charleston Southern Buccaneers | Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 29-57 | 21-59 |
| Field goal % | 51 | 36 |
| Three-pointers | 10-25 | 8-21 |
| Three-point % | 40 | 38 |
| Free throws | 21-31 | 29-33 |
| Free throw % | 68 | 88 |
| Rebounds | 38 | 35 |
| Offensive rebounds | 10 | 11 |
| Defensive rebounds | 28 | 24 |
| Assists | 12 | 10 |
| Steals | 4 | 9 |
| Blocks | 6 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 12 | 10 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 10 | 12 |
| Fast-break points | 2 | 5 |
| Points in the paint | 34 | 24 |
| Fouls | 24 | 22 |
| Largest lead | 15 | 17 |
| Lead changes | 2 | 2 |
| Time in front | 51 | 47 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half55-53Luke Williams makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jesse Hafemeister assists)
- 2nd Half57-53A'lahn Sumler makes layup
- 2nd Half57-55Colin Hawkins makes 13-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half60-55Luke Williams makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half60-57Spence Sims makes layup (NaVuan Peterson assists)
- 2nd Half63-57A'lahn Sumler makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jesse Hafemeister assists)
- 2nd Half64-57Brycen Blaine makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-58Jamias Ferere makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half64-59Jamias Ferere makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-59Brycen Blaine makes layup
- 2nd Half66-61NaVuan Peterson makes layup (Jamias Ferere assists)
- 2nd Half67-61A'lahn Sumler makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half68-61A'lahn Sumler makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half68-62Jamias Ferere makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half68-63Jamias Ferere makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-63Jacob Taylor makes layup
- 2nd Half70-64Ace Talbert makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half70-65Ace Talbert makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-67Jacob Hogarth makes layup
- 2nd Half72-67Brycen Blaine makes layup
- 2nd Half72-68Jacob Hogarth makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half74-68A'lahn Sumler makes layup
- 2nd Half75-68Reis Jones makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half76-68Reis Jones makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half77-68Reis Jones makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half80-68A'lahn Sumler makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half83-68Jesse Hafemeister makes 24-foot three point jumper (A'lahn Sumler assists)
- 2nd Half83-71Ace Talbert makes 28-foot three point jumper (Colin Hawkins assists)
- 2nd Half84-71Luke Williams makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half85-71Luke Williams makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half85-72DJ Jefferson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half85-73DJ Jefferson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half87-73Jesse Hafemeister makes layup (Reis Jones assists)
- 2nd Half87-74Jamias Ferere makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half87-75Jamias Ferere makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half87-77Curtis Williams III makes 14-foot jumper
- 2nd Half87-78Spence Sims makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half87-79Spence Sims makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half88-79A'lahn Sumler makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half89-79A'lahn Sumler makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs, below favours Charleston Southern Buccaneers.
Venue
- Paul Porter ArenaBoiling Springs, NC
- Attendance420
- OfficialsSean Lineberger, Owen Luckie, Chandler Burton
Elsewhere
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- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
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- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
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