CLINTON, S.C. --- Tyrell Nelson (Charlotte, N.C.) poured in 17 points to lead four Runnin' Bulldogs in double figures, as Gardner-Webb weathered a late second-half by Presbyterian and held on for an 87-76 win to open its Big South Conference schedule Wednesday evening.
Gardner-Webb (3-5, 1-0 Big South) knocked down 31-of-54 from the floor, including 16-of-26 in the first half, while connecting on 12-of-22 attempts from downtown on the night. Presbyterian (3-4, 0-1 Big South) shot 46 percent from the field and converted 24-of-33 at the free throw line, as the Runnin' Bulldogs won the battle on the glass by a 33-27 margin.
Nelson led the way for Gardner-Webb with 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting to go along with a team-high seven rebounds. Harold McBride (Bronx, N.Y.) added 15 points with a 3-for-3 night from three-point range, as Dylan Poston (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) and Adonis Burbage (Orlando, Fla.) posted 14 and 13 points, respectively. McBride and Laquincy Rideau (West Palm Beach, Fla.) each dished out four assists.
DeSean Murray paced the Blue Hose with a game-high 28 points, connecting on 9-of-15 from the floor and 10-of-14 at the free throw line while also hauling in nine boards. Markus Terry added 13 points, as Jaron Withers and John Majors II each chipped in nine points.
Murray got the Blue Hose going early with three straight buckets before Gardner-Webb responded, stringing together a 10-2 run to claim a 12-8 lead following a three-point play by Nelson at the 14:45 mark. Presbyterian would bounce back with a 7-2 spurt to take a narrow 15-14 advantage on an Adams three-ball with 12:00 minutes left in the first half.
The Runnin' Bulldogs answered right back with an 18-4 surge, opening a 32-19 lead on back-to-back treys from Ivey at the 4:25 mark. A McBride lay-in with exactly one minute on the clock would push the advantage to 15, 40-27, before a pair of late PC free throws trimmed the margin to 40-27 at the intermission.
Gardner-Webb kept up the hot shooting in the second half, stretching the lead to 61-41 with a 21-14 run that was capped by a Nelson jumper at the 12:23 mark. The Runnin' Bulldogs would push the margin to as many as 25, opening a 76-51 advantage on a Poston trey with 6:43 to go.
Presbyterian fought back with a late run, whittling away with a 25-8 run over the next six minutes to trim the margin to 84-76 with 33 seconds left on the clock. The Runnin' Bulldogs quelled the rally in the final moments, sealing the 87-76 win with a trio of free throws from Burbage and McBride.
Gardner-Webb is back in action on Saturday when the Runnin' Bulldogs host High Point in their Blackout Game. Tip-off is slated for 7:00 pm in Paul Porter Arena on the Big South Network.
