GAME NOTES: The first-ever meeting between the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs and the Seton Hall Pirates is set for Sunday as part of the Paradise Jam.

Seton Hall, which finished fifth in this event back in 2010, got off on the right foot two days ago with a 68-60 triumph over Nevada, five days after opening the 2014-15 campaign with a 63-47 romp over the Mercer Bears at home in New Jersey.

Meanwhile, the Runnin' Bulldogs have bounced back from a season-opening loss at LSU (93-82) last weekend by getting by the College of Charleston (80-67) and posting an upset of Clemson two days ago, 72-70.

The winner of this meeting will be back in action on Monday in the title game versus the survivor of the Old Dominion/Illinois State matchup.

The Bulldogs shot only 37.3 percent from the floor, compared to 49.1 percent for Clemson, yet still found a way to slip by the Tigers by two points in St. Thomas a few days back. Tyler Strange, one of five players to score in double figures, finished with a double-double consisting of 18 points and 10 assists, the latter stat matching the entire Clemson squad.

Tyrell Nelson produced 12 points and six rebounds, followed by Jerome Hill, Jarvis Davis and reserve Harold McBride with 10 points apiece for a squad that led the way on the glass, 40-34, and had almost half of those (17) at the offensive end of the floor.

Through three games, Hill is at the top of the scoring list for Gardner-Webb with his 17.7 ppg, followed by Nelson (15.7 ppg), Strange (14.7 ppg) and Davis (14.3 ppg). Strange has also handed out 25 of his team's 47 assists, making sure mistakes are held to a minimum.

The Pirates converted a mere 40.4 percent from the floor and 16-of-27 (.593) at the free-throw line, but was still playing well enough to dismiss Nevada by eight points in the most recent outing on Monday. Sterling Gibbs was responsible for a game-high 15 points, Brandon Mobley pitched in with 12 and Khadeen Carrington another 11 points off the bench, while no one else on the roster made more than three field goals.

Gibbs and Mobley have posted 16.0 and 15.5 ppg, respectively, through the first two games, but after that there is a severe drop off in production as Angel Delgado posts 7.0 ppg, but at least the latter is stepping up the efforts in the paint with a team-best 10.5 ppg, his total of nine offensive rebounds more than all but one of his teammates has in total in the early going.

With the upset win over Clemson, the Runnin' Bulldogs have proven to themselves that they can compete against any one of the teams in this tournament. As long as Strange can keep his teammates involved in the action and keep Gardner-Webb from making too many mistakes, the team will have a chance to advance on the winner's side of the bracket.