Gardner-Webb overcomes turnovers to secure spot in Mayan Championship

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MX –  You know it will always be a good time when you visit Mexico, but the opening matchup in the Mayan Division at 2024 Men's Cancun Challenge hosted at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya took it to a different level. In the opening game of the tournament, Gardner-Webb pulled off a stunner against Southeastern Louisiana, 73-69, on Tuesday afternoon.

Playing in the program's first international game, Southeastern Louisiana (2-4) and Gardner-Webb University Runnin' Bulldogs (3-3), put on a good one in the opening matchup of the tournament.

It took both teams a while to settle into their new setting in Mexico, with Southeastern Louisiana giving up 5 turnovers by the midway point of the first half, Gardner-Webb tallying nine, who holds one of the highest turnover rates in the country early into the season.

Despite that, both squads found their groove in what turned out to be an entertaining first half.

Pharell Boyogueno, who didn't score in the Runnin' Bulldogs previous game, showed up big early on for Gardner-Webb in the first half, tallying 13 points. The back-and-forth battle of the first half ended with Southeastern Louisiana up 37-36.

Gardner-Webb took over five minutes to knock down a field goal in the second half, but hung in through it all.

Southeastern Louisiana, who replaced four of their top five scorers from last year, continued to find their groove in the second half, focused more on running the floor this season, showed their new style of play and it paid dividends for the Lions.

Despite the turnover issues throughout, Gardner-Webb powered through to earn a spot in the Mayan Division title game on Wednesday. The Lions will move on to the third place game on Wednesday at Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya.

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