BOILING SPRINGS --- Tyrell Nelson (Charlotte, N.C.) led all players with 20 points and 11 rebounds to account for a double-double, as Gardner-Webb's spirited second-half comeback fell just short to High Point, 66-64, in Big South Conference play on Saturday evening in Paul Porter Arena.

High Point (6-2, 2-0 Big South) shot 48.2 percent from the floor on the night, including a 51.5 percent clip in the first half, while holding Gardner-Webb (3-6, 1-1 Big South) to a field goal percentage of 36.5 percent in the contest. Gardner-Webb converted 13-of-14 attempts at the line as opposed to a 7-of-16 clip for High Point.

The Runnin' Bulldogs won the battle on the glass by a decisive 44-31 margin, including a 16-7 advantage on the offensive boards. High Point connected on 5-of-10 from downtown compared to a 5-for-25 effort from long range for Gardner-Webb.

Nelson led the way for Gardner-Webb with game-highs of 20 points and 11 rebounds to account for his third double-double of the season, as Harold McBride (Bronx, N.Y.) and Isaiah Ivey (Georgetown, Ky.) added 17 and 10 points, respectively. McBride also tallied eight boards and six assists.

John Brown paced the Panthers with 16 points and eight boards, as Anthony Lindauer and Lorenzo Cugini chipped in 16 and 15 points, respectively. Haiishen McIntyre dished out four assists for High Point.

High Point took advantage early in the first half, answering a David Efianayi (Orlando, Fla.) layup with a 13-2 run to open a 19-9 lead on a fast-break slam by Brown at the 10:11 mark. Gardner-Webb would trim the margin to 21-14 with an Ivey trey before High Point reclaimed the momentum, pushing the advantage to 37-21 following a Cugini three-ball with 1:43 left in the half.

The Runnin' Bulldogs ended the period on a high, closing the gap to 40-26 at the break on a last-second lay-in from Nelson.

Gardner-Webb would ride the wave into the second half, starting the period with a 12-2 surge to trim the advantage to 42-38 on a silky smooth lay-in from Efianayi at the 13:33 mark. High Point quickly countered with three straight baskets, pushing the lead back out to 10 at 48-38 on a Lindauer jumper with 10:39 to play.

Nelson and the ​Runnin' Bulldogs kept fighting over the next several minutes, staying within striking distance and battling back to with six, 62-56, on back-to-back buckets from the junior forward at the 2:04 and 1:39 marks. Lindauer scored four crucial points for the Panthers moments later, bookending a McBride trey with a jumper and two free throws to extend the lead to 66-59 with 47 ticks left.

The Runnin' Bulldogs turned up the defense pressure and it paid huge dividends on the ensuing three possessions, as Gardner-Webb did not allow High Point into the front court for the remainder of the game. McBride got the Runnin' Bulldogs right back in it on the first of those three possessions, knocking down a clutch three-pointer to pull GWU back within four at 66-62 with 31 seconds remaining.

Freshman Laquincy Rideau (West Palm Beach, Fla.) forced a turnover on the ensuing inbound, drawing the foul before sinking both free throws to cut the lead to just two – 66-64 – and bring the Paul Porter crowd to their feet.

The Runnin' Bulldogs got the ball back again seconds later, forcing Lindauer out of bounds off the inbound and giving themselves a chance to tie or take the lead with the last shot of the game. McBride got a good look off the inbound, pulling up from three for the win but it was not to be, as his shot hit front iron and fell into the arms of a defender as the buzzer sounded.

Gardner-Webb returns to the court next Saturday, December 12 when the Runnin' Bulldogs make the short trek to Greenville, S.C. to take on Furman at 4:00 pm.