Kennesaw State Owls @ Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs
| 1 | 2 | OT | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
KENN | 34 | 36 | 7 | 77 |
GWEB | 28 | 42 | 11 | 81 |
Perez has career-best 24, Gardner-Webb wins 81-77 in OT
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. -- Jose Perez had five of his career-best 24 points in overtime as Gardner-Webb held off Kennesaw State 81-77 to grab its fifth straight win on Thursday night.
Perez, who was 8 of 15 from the floor while making all six free throws offered, drove for a layup in the waning seconds of regulation to tie it at 70-70. Kennesaw State's Tyler Hooker missed a 3-point attempt at the buzzer.
Perez opened the extra period by hitting a jump shot and later completed a 3-point play as the Bulldogs led throughout overtime.
Kennesaw State led 34-28 at the half and pushed that to 48-36. The Owls maintained their lead until David Efianayi made four free throws for a 68-66 lead with 1:26 remaining.
Efianayi was 14 of 17 at the free-throw line to total 21 points and DJ Laster added 15 points with seven rebounds for Gardner-Webb (7-5).
Hooker had 18 points to lead Kennesaw State (1-9). Bryson Lockley added 15 points while grabbing 11 rebounds and Kosta Jankovic scored 10 with a career-high 13 boards.
Game Information
Boiling Springs, NC
Referee:Jerry Heater
Referee:Tony Chiazza
Referee:A.J. Desai
2025-26 Standings
| Conference USA | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 12-0 | - | 20-3 |
| Jacksonville State | 8-4 | 4 | 13-10 |
| Sam Houston | 8-5 | 4.5 | 16-8 |
| Missouri State | 7-5 | 5 | 13-10 |
| Kennesaw State | 6-6 | 6 | 14-9 |
| Louisiana Tech | 6-6 | 6 | 13-10 |
| Western Kentucky | 6-7 | 6.5 | 13-11 |
| Middle Tennessee | 5-7 | 7 | 11-12 |
| UTEP | 5-8 | 7.5 | 9-15 |
| Florida International | 4-8 | 8 | 11-12 |
| New Mexico State | 4-9 | 8.5 | 11-12 |
| Delaware | 3-9 | 9 | 7-16 |
| Big South Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Point | 10-1 | - | 22-4 |
| Winthrop | 10-1 | - | 18-8 |
| Radford | 6-5 | 4 | 13-13 |
| Presbyterian | 5-5 | 4.5 | 12-13 |
| UNC Asheville | 5-5 | 4.5 | 11-13 |
| Longwood | 5-6 | 5 | 13-13 |
| South Carolina Upstate | 3-7 | 6.5 | 11-14 |
| Charleston Southern | 2-8 | 7.5 | 11-14 |
| Gardner-Webb | 1-9 | 8.5 | 3-22 |
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