BOILING SPRINGS – C.J. Hailey scored 15 points and Gardner-Webb shot 54.5 percent in the second half to cruise past Charleston Southern, 68-59, on Saturday.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (13-16, 9-9 Big South) got 10 points from Auryn MacMillan, 10 points from Takayo Siddle and balanced games from Aaron Linn (eight points, six rebounds, six assists) and Josh Henley (four points, nine rebounds, six assists) to win its second in a row.

Gardner-Webb will travel to face Liberty in the first round of the Advance Auto Parts Men's Basketball Tournament Tuesday night, as the ‘Dogs fell victim to a three-way tie for fifth with Winthrop and Presbyterian. The Eagles were given the fifth seed by virtue of a season sweep of the Presbyterian, which isn't eligible for postseason play. Gardner-Webb split with both Winthrop and Presbyterian during the season.

GWU went up 24-13 midway through the first half Saturday, but missed 13 of its next 15 shots to allow the Bucs (9-20, 4-14 Big South) to slip ahead by one at halftime after Jemarco Warren made a pair of free throws with 5.9 seconds left in the half.

The ‘Dogs hit seven of their first nine shots to start the second half, however, and shot 77 percent over the first eight minutes to take a comfortable lead that would not be seriously challenged the rest of the way.

Grayson Flittner's layup with 12:20 left gave GWU a 49-39 lead, and that margin would not get under 10 points until 34 seconds were left in the game – despite Gardner-Webb not making a field goal for the final 6:31 of the game. Siddle's long distance connection at that mark gave GWU its largest lead of the game, 63-48.

Charleston Southern made just six field goals in the game's final 13 minutes, and shot just 40.0 percent (24-of-60) for the game. It wasn't for lack of trying. Warren attempted 17 shots (four makes) and 10 three-pointers (one make) and Omar Carter launched 15 shots (four makes) – mostly contested chances from the perimeter.

The lone consistent offense produced by the Bucs came from 6-foot-10 center Giedrius Knysas, who hit 8-of-10 shots for 17 points – although he made much of that offensive himself by attacking the offensive glass and working free with an Lew Alcindor-style "skyhook" shot across the lane several times.

Gardner-Webb shot 48.0 percent for the game (24-of-50) and made 7-of-20 shots from long distance.

Check back with GWUSports.com for more specific Advance Auto Parts Big South Conference Tournament information.