BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb had little resistance from Mary Washington Saturday night, rolling to an easy 61-42 exhibition win at Paul Porter Arena.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs clamped down defensively with an effective 2-3 zone for much of the evening, limiting the visitors – a Division III school from Virginia – to 9-for-40 shooting (22.5 percent) and only 2-for-19 efficiency (10.5 percent) from three-point range.

Gardner-Webb opened the game on a 26-6 run, led the slow-paced game 34-13 at the break, and rested its starters after going up 38-13 early in the second half. Mary Washington didn’t score its first points of the second half until 11:52 remained in the game and Gardner-Webb held a 47-13 lead after a pair of free throws from 6-foot-6 freshman guard Thomas Staton.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs used the exhibition to continue testing different lineup combinations, but the team’s six newcomers chewed up the majority of playing time in the second half.

Senior wing Anton Silver came off the bench to pace the GWU scoring with nine points in 12 minutes of action (2-of-5 on three-pointers). Auryn MacMillan added eight points, C.J. Hailey and David Brown had six apiece and freshman forward Stefon Johnson had seven points.

Preseason All-Conference guard Grayson Flittner played 21 minutes at point guard and scored four points to go with two assists and two steals.

Gardner-Webb had a cold night shooting the basketball, making 18-of-54 shots (33.3 percent), but controlled the glass easily and forced 23 turnovers (nine steals). Forward Josh Henley paced the effort on the glass with 15 rebounds (seven offensive).

Qaiser Ahmed led Mary Washington with 12 points (8-of-8 free throws).

Gardner-Webb opens the regular season on Saturday, November 14, at 7 pm vs. Covenant College at home.