ROCK HILL, S.C. (Interstat) — A surging Winthrop looks to continue its home-court advantage and climb above .500 when it hosts struggling Gardner-Webb in a Big South Conference men’s basketball matchup Saturday at Winthrop Coliseum.

The Eagles (8-8) enter conference play at an even mark, having shown potency at home with a 5-2 record in Rock Hill. Their offense will lean heavily on forward Logan Duncomb, who is coming off a dominant 31-point, 13-rebound performance in a loss at Longwood on Dec. 31. Over his last six games, Duncomb is averaging 19.3 points and 9.8 rebounds, establishing himself as the focal point of Winthrop’s attack.

Gardner-Webb (2-14) seeks a desperately needed turnaround to open its league schedule. The Runnin’ Bulldogs have lost 12 of their last 13 games, with the lone win in that stretch a 105-65 victory over non-Division I Toccoa Falls. They are 0-8 in true road games this season.

A bright spot for the visitors has been the recent play of guard NaVuan Peterson. He scored a team-high 17 points in 20 minutes off the bench in Wednesday’s 89-79 home loss to Charleston Southern. Gardner-Webb will need similar efficiency from Peterson and fellow scorer Jacob Hogarth (15 points vs. Charleston Southern) to keep pace.

Winthrop won both meetings last season by an average of 18 points. The Eagles’ balanced scoring, coupled with Duncomb’s interior presence, presents a significant challenge for a Gardner-Webb team allowing 84.1 points per game, ranking near the bottom nationally in scoring defense.

Saturday’s contest tips off a critical conference stretch for both teams. Winthrop aims to solidify its standing as a contender, while Gardner-Webb hopes to find a spark to salvage its season.