CHARLESTON – Wednesday afternoon, Charleston Southern traveled to Boiling Springs for a New Year's Eve, conference opener against Gardner-Webb. After trailing by as many as 17 in the first-half, the Bucs would defeat the Runnin' Bulldogs, 89-79.

Although just three days prior, CSU made only 10 three-pointers and walked out victorious against a 10-2 Richmond Spiders program, their two made threes in the first-half against Gardner-Webb was far from the amount they needed to keep up. A little over halfway through the period, CSU would find themselves down double-figures (25-14). The GWU-lead would peak at 17 late in the contest's first frame and Head Coach Saah Nimley's Buccaneers would enter the halftime locker room down a noticeable dozen (46-34).

In the halftime locker room, Coach Nimley's message to his team regarding a comeback was passionate and yet concise, "You guys are going to have to do this possession by possession." 

Those needed possessions would come early for the Bucs as a 22-4 to start the second-half would earn CSU the 55-53 lead – a lead they would never relinquish. 20 minutes after an intense halftime regrouping, Charleston Southern would officially start the 2026 conference slate 1-0, as well as earning the 10th win of their 2025-26 campaign.

Notables:

• A'lahn Sumler led the Bucs with 29 points in his first Big South game since March 8th, 2024.

• Luke Williams scored a team-second 16 points in his Big South Conference-debut.

• Sumler and Williams would also knock down 4 three-pointers a piece.

• Brycen Blaine (15) and Jesse Hafemeister (10) would also reach double-figures in their first games as Big South players.

• Hafemeister would post a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double.

• Continuing his rim-protecting dominance from last season, Reis Jones would swat 3 shot attempts Wednesday afternoon.

• Charleston Southern's win over Gardner-Webb is the Bucs 10th all-time win over the Runnin' Bulldog-program, as well as their third in a row over the conference foe.

Up Next:

CSU will host UNC Asheville on Saturday, January 3rd for a 4:00 PM match-up with the Bulldogs, the team that knocked them out of the Big South Tournament ten months prior. The game is set to be broadcast on ESPN+.

To see a full sit-down conversation with Coach Nimley discussing the Bucs' next opponents and previous game recaps, watch the "2025-2026 Nimley Coaches Show" on CSUsports.com, X/Twitter, or YouTube.

For all the most up-to-date coverage involving CSU Men's Basketball, follow us on Instagram and X/Twitter @csu_mbball.