SHELBY, N.C. (Interstat) — A surging High Point team riding a nine-game winning streak will look to continue its dominance when it visits struggling Gardner-Webb in a Big South Conference men’s basketball matchup Saturday at Paul Porter Arena.

The Panthers (23-4, 12-2 Big South) have established themselves as the class of the league, boasting the conference’s best record and showcasing one of its most potent offenses. They enter off a 95-70 road rout of South Carolina Upstate on Thursday, their ninth consecutive victory since a Jan. 14 loss to Winthrop. Their last defeat came over a month ago.

High Point is led by guard Rob Martin, who is averaging 18.4 points over his last seven games. He scored a game-high 27 points in just 25 minutes in the win over Upstate. The Panthers have won their games during this streak by an average margin of 14.2 points.

Gardner-Webb (3-23, 1-13) has endured a difficult season, having lost 12 of its last 13 games. The Runnin’ Bulldogs fell 103-85 at home to Winthrop on Thursday. Jacob Hogarth led Gardner-Webb with 20 points, four assists and three blocks in that loss, representing a bright spot in a challenging year.

The stark contrast between the teams was on full display just over five weeks ago, when High Point throttled Gardner-Webb 104-49 at home on Jan. 7. The Panthers shot 56.5% from the field and forced 18 turnovers in that lopsided victory.

For Gardner-Webb to be competitive, it must find a way to slow High Point’s high-scoring attack, which has surpassed 80 points in 18 games this season. The Runnin’ Bulldogs will also need a major performance from Hogarth and improved defensive intensity to avoid a repeat of January’s result.

The game tips off at 4:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. High Point will look to maintain its momentum heading into a key late-season homestand, while Gardner-Webb seeks a monumental upset to salvage pride on its home floor.