BOILING SPRINGS --- Jerome Hill (Adel, Ga.) and Jarvis Davis (Columbia, S.C.) each scored 20 points to lead the way for Gardner-Webb, as High Point shot 64.5 percent from the field in the second half to pull away for an 84-72 victory over the Runnin' Bulldogs in Big South Conference play on Wednesday evening.
High Point (13-4, 4-1 Big South) connected on 55.7 percent of its attempts from the floor in the contest, including a 20-for-31 clip in the second half, while Gardner-Webb (11-7, 3-2 Big South) shot 47.2 percent on the night. The Runnin' Bulldogs won the battle on the glass by a 31-27 margin, including a 10-8 edge on the offensive boards, as High Point converted 14 Gardner-Webb turnovers into 16 points.
Hill and Davis paced the Runnin' Bulldogs with 20 points each, as Hill pulled down a game-high 16 rebounds to record his eighth double-double of the season. The junior forward connected on 6-of-11 from the floor and 8-of-10 at the free throw line on the night, while Davis knocked down 4-of-9 from downtown.
Tyler Strange (Leominster, Mass.) dished out six assists, as Adonis Burbage (Orlando, Fla.) and Tyrell Nelson (Charlotte, N.C.) each added eight points.
John Brown and Adam Weary led all scorers with 23 points each, as Brown knocked down 10-of-17 from the floor. Devante Wallace added 12 points, while Haiishen McIntyre and Lorenzo Cugini chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively. Cugini pulled down a team-high eight rebounds, as Weary and Brian Richardson both dished out five assists.
Gardner-Webb started off strong, opening the game with a 7-3 run that was capped by a Burbage lay-in at the 17:07 mark. High Point would quickly answer with a 14-9 stretch, taking its first lead of the night on a three-point play from Weary with 10:19 to go in the half.
The Runnin' Bulldogs wasted little time in responding, battling back with 11 of the next 17 points to reclaim the advantage at 27-23 following two Hill free throws at the 4:20 mark.
High Point would answer with a 21-2 surge that carried over into the second half, opening a 44-29 margin on a Wallace tip-in with 17:09 left to play. Gardner-Webb kept fighting, cutting the lead to nine following back-to-back steal and a bucket plays from Davis with 12:03 to go.
The Panthers stopped the bleeding with a 14-4 run, opening their largest lead of the night at 66-47 after a Weary layup at the 8:07 mark. High Point would close out the win from there, keeping the margin at double digits for the remainder of the contest en route to the 12-point victory.
Gardner-Webb returns to the court on Saturday afternoon when the Runnin' Bulldogs travel to Conway, S.C. to take on the Big South-leading Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at 4:30 pm.
