BOILING SPRINGS --- Tyrell Nelson (Charlotte, N.C.) poured in 19 points to lead four players in double figures, as Gardner-Webb pulled away for a 101-78 victory over Middle Georgia State College on Monday evening in Paul Porter Arena.

Gardner-Webb (6-8) shot 48.8 percent from the floor on the night, including an even 50 percent in the first half, while holding Middle Georgia (4-1) to a field goal percentage of 41.9 percent. The Runnin' Bulldogs won the battle on the glass by a 44-36 margin, including a 16-9 advantage on the offensive boards, while converting 17 Knight turnovers into 24 points.

Nelson led the Runnin' Bulldogs with 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting, moving to within 26 points of the 1,000-point mark for his career. Harold McBride (Bronx, N.Y.) added 18 points, five assists and three steals, while Isaiah Ivey (Georgetown, Ky.) and Adonis Burbage (Orlando, Fla.) each chipped in 13 points.

L'Hassane Niangane (Chalon, France) posted nine points to go along with game-highs of seven rebounds and three blocks, as Laquincy Rideau (West Palm Beach, Fla.) dished out a game- and season-high nine assists.

Kieston Standfield paced the Knights with a game-high 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting while pulling down seven boards. Cory Reid added 10 points, as Condell Woodson chipped in eight.

The Runnin' Bulldogs trailed just once in the game, falling behind 2-0 on a pair of early free throws before stringing together a 14-3 answering run to take a 14-5 lead. After Middle Georgia cut it to 17-12 on a Standfield three-point play, Gardner-Webb countered with a 14-5 spurt to stretch the margin to 31-17 on a fast-break slam by David Efianayi (Orlando, Fla.) at the 11:06 mark.

Middle Georgia battled back with a 14-3 run of its own over the next four minutes, closing the gap to 34-31 following a Tevion Pope jumper with 6:55 left on the clock. Gardner-Webb would quickly counter with a 19-7 stretch to finish the half, capping the spurt with a fast-break bucket from Efianayi to take a 53-38 lead into the break.

The Runnin' Bulldogs carried the momentum into the second half, opening the period with a 29-19 run to push the margin to 82-57 on a trey from Jamaal Robateau (Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia) at the 9:54 mark. Nelson and the Runnin' Bulldogs would close out the win from there, stretching the advantage to as many as 35 in the final five minutes en route to the easy double-digit victory.

Gardner-Webb resumes Big South Conference play on New Years Eve, Thursday, December 31 when the Runnin' Bulldogs host Coastal Carolina. Tip-off is slated for 6:00 pm on the Big South Network from Paul Porter Arena.