Fri Nov 08 18:10:00 UTC 2024: ## Gardner-Webb Set to Upset North Carolina Central in College Basketball Showdown

**[City, State] -** Gardner-Webb (0-1) is looking to bounce back from their opening-game loss to Tennessee when they face off against North Carolina Central (0-1) this Friday, November 8th, at the McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium.

Despite a strong second-half performance against George Mason, NC Central ultimately fell short, losing 75-58. Their offense struggled in the first quarter, while their defense gave up 43 points in the second half. While Josh Smith and Isaac Parson led the scoring with 14 and 12 points respectively, the Eagles will need more consistent offensive production to secure a win.

Gardner-Webb, on the other hand, will be looking to improve defensively after allowing Tennessee to shoot a scorching 50.9% from beyond the arc in their 80-64 loss. Despite a decent offensive performance, led by Darryl Simmons II’s 22 points, the Runnin’ Bulldogs need to tighten up defensively and improve their shooting accuracy.

Experts believe that Gardner-Webb’s offense, which put up 64 points against a strong Tennessee team, is likely to score even more against a weaker NC Central defense. With their offensive firepower and the potential for a defensive improvement, Gardner-Webb is predicted to upset North Carolina Central and cover the spread.

**The matchup tips off at 1:00 PM EDT.**

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