Winthrop (15-4, 7-1 BSC) at Gardner-Webb (11-10, 4-4 BSC)
Game Time:7 p.m. EST / Site: Boiling Springs, NC (Paul Porter Arena)
Live Video: Big South Network Television: none  / Audio: 104.1 The Bridge, pregame 6:30 p.m (Dave Friedman-PxP/Mike Pacheco-Color)
Live Stats  / Live Video  / Live Audio 

Dave Friedman/Mike Pacheco Preview The Matchup
ROCK HILL, SC—Winthrop will put its six-game winning streak on the line Thursday night when it heads to Boiling Springs, NC to take on Gardner-Webb at 7 p.m. inside Paul Porter Arena.

Winthrop continues its best start under head coach Pat Kelsey and one of the best starts in the history of the program with a 15-4 overall record and 7-1 in the Big South. The game will air on the Big South Network or fans can tune into 104.1 The Bridge as Dave Friedman and Mike Pacheco will call the action.

Winthrop currently sits atop the Big South Conference standings, just a game above UNC Asheville and Liberty. The Eagles were able to build the one-game cushion as it knocked off both Asheville and the Flames last week. By doing so, Winthrop jumped eight spots in the latest CollegeInsider.com Top 25 Mid-Major Poll to 17^th.

The team is looking to match its longest winning streak during the Kelsey area and capture seven wins in a row for the first time since 2009-10. The Eagles also have a streak of six straight wins on the road as they go for their 9^th road win of the season. Another road win would match the second most by a Winthrop team as the 2002-03 and 2004-05 teams won nine road games. The 2006-07 team holds the record with 12.

Offensively the Eagles are one of the best in the league, but it has been the defense playing a large role during the win streak. Winthrop has allowed just 62.5 points while holding opponents to 39 percent shooting from the field and 26 percent behind the arc. The Eagles have a +3.7 advantage on the boards and have forced 15 more turnovers

Three players have averaged double-figures in that stretch as the team's top scorer Keon Johnson has averaged 19.0 ppg. Johnson remains second in the league in scoring at 20.3 per game and is third in the league in free throw percentage. Xavier Cooks has averaged 13.2 points and 11.0 rebounds during the streak while Anders Broman has chipped in with 11.2 points on 50 percent shooting.

Cooks, who reached 1,000 points in the win over UNC Asheville, became the 11^th player in Big South history with 1,000 points, 550 rebounds and 125 blocks. So far in eight league games he's averaged 13.6 points and 9.9 rebounds as he looks to become the first player since 2001-02 to average a double-double in league play. Greg Lewis was the last to do so when he averaged 16.7 points and 11.6 rebounds.

This will mark the 25^th meeting between Winthrop and Gardner-Webb as the Eagles look for a fourth straight win over the Runnin' Bulldogs. Winthrop leads the all-time series 15-9 all-time and is 9-6 in regular season Big South games.

Gardner-Webb is 11-10 on the year and 4-4 in the league. The Runnin' Bulldogs are coming off a 78-61 win over Presbyterian College at home behind 10 three-pointers and 24 points off turnovers.

The Runnin' Bulldogs are led by one of the top big men in the league as senior Tyrell Nelson leads the team with 13.5 points and 6.8 rebounds. Nelson is averaging 13.3 points and 7.6 rebounds in league play. He's led the team in scoring seven times, including a season-high 24 points in the team's win at Nebraska.

Nelson is one of three players averaging double-figures as LaQuincy Rdeau is second on the team in scoring at 13.3 ppg and David Efianayi is scoring 12.0 ppg. Rideau is averaging a team-best 14.6 ppg during league play and has led the team in scoring six times. He is a threat to score inside and outside (21-for-48 from three) and has 129 free throw attempts (2^nd most in the league).