Tyler Strange got off a shot for Gardner-Webb (9-11, 2-3 Big South) just before the buzzer from five feet away, but it was off the mark.

Strange tied the game at 76 on two free throws with 13.7 seconds left, setting the stage for Harper's big shot. The junior guard took the inbounds pass and dribbled the clock under nine seconds before making his move to the basket and connecting on a difficult look.

The win was the first in eight tries in Boiling Springs for Charleston Southern (9-9, 3-2 Big South). The two teams played a pair of overtime games last season, with Gardner-Webb winning both of those meetings - by one point on the road and five in Paul Porter Arena.

Wednesday night was a game of huge runs and momentum swings. The Buccaneers bolted on a 19-6 run to break the game wide open midway through the first half, taking a 35-17 lead with 6:44 left before halftime on a Saah Nimley 3-pointer.

Gardner-Webb had its turn next, responding with a gritty run of its own - closing the half on a 22-8 spurt to pull within 43-39 by halftime. Naji Hibbert powered that surge, connecting on a pair of 3-pointers to finish with 10 at intermission.

The momentum swing carried over into the second half for Gardner-Webb, with the 'Dogs going on a 17-6 run out of the locker room to take a 56-51 lead on a Hibbert free throw after a technical foul on the CSU bench. Donta Harper had tied the game earlier at 51 on a thunderous dunk and Hibbert converted a fast break layup with 14:47 left to give GWU the lead.

The overall run for Gardner-Webb spanned both halves and 11:44 of game clock - and reached a crescendo of 39-14 after Hibbert's free throw.

Charleston Southern had another run in its back pocket, going on 10-5 burst to pull even on Andy Kennedy's layup with 9:41 to go. That kickstarted a larger, 25-10 run that was capped by a pair of Allie Fullah free throws with 4:57 left that put the Buccaneers back up by double digits - 76-66.

Strange nailed a 3-pointer with 4:43 to play to keep the game within reach, and the Runnin' Bulldogs started a methodical, 10-0 run over the next four minutes to pull even. GWU had several key defensive stops during the rally, and got five points from freshman center Tyrell Nelson to key the comeback.

Jerome Hill led four Gardner-Webb players in double figures with 19 points and Hibbert added 18 on 7-of-11 shooting. Nelson went for 13 points and six boards and Harper had 11 for the Runnin' Bulldogs.

Gardner-Webb shot 56.0 percent in the opening half and finished at 48.3 percent for the game (28-of-58) from the floor. The Runnin' Bulldogs had a tough night from long range, making just 4-of-15 shots from deep (26.7 percent), and the rebounding battle was even. The game was the third home loss in a row for GWU, its longest streak since late November 2009.

Charleston Southern shot 48.3 percent as well from the floor (29-of-60), but connected on a difference-making 8-of-16 from 3-point range - including a 5-of-7 effort in the opening half.

Nimley led all scorers with 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting, and the Buccaneers had six men reach double figures scoring. Cedrick Bowen and Saunders had 12 and 11 points, respectively, off the bench - keying a 26-6 edge in bench scoring for the visitors.

Harper finished with 12 points, Kennedy had 10 and Fullah had 10 for CSU.

Wednesday's game featured four ties and five lead changes.

Gardner-Webb returns home Saturday night, hosting Campbell at 7:00 in Paul Porter Arena. The game will air live on WGWG-FM (88.3 / wgwg.org) and The Big South Network, with Fabian Fuentes calling the action.