ROCK HILL, S.C. --- Winthrop answered a late Adonis Burbage (Orlando, Fla.) with four unanswered points in the final five seconds, holding on for a narrow 71-68 Big South Conference victory over Gardner-Webb on Saturday afternoon after the Runnin' Bulldogs stormed back with a 17-4 run in the first five minutes of the second half.

Winthrop (14-11, 9-5 Big South) shot 36.8 percent from the floor in the contest, including a 45.8 percent clip in the first half, while holding Gardner-Webb (16-11, 8-6 Big South) to a field goal percentage of 34.8 percent on the afternoon.

The Runnin' Bulldogs won the battle on the glass by a 44-39 margin, converting 17 offensive rebounds into 23 second-chance points and scoring 16 points off of 12 Winthrop turnovers. Gardner-Webb connected on 16-of-18 attempts at the free throw line in the contest.

Jerome Hill (Adel, Ga.) led the way for Gardner-Webb with his Big South-leading 14th double-double of the season, scoring 21 points and pulling down a game-high 15 rebounds while converting 11-of-12 at the free throw line. With the effort, Hill becomes the second player in the program's Division I era to score at least 500 points in a single season, while moving him into sole possession of third place on GWU's Division I all-time scoring list.

Tyrell Nelson (Charlotte, N.C.) added a double-double of his own with 11 points and 10 rebounds, as Jarvis Davis (Columbia, S.C.) poured in 15 points with a 6-for-13 day from the floor. Tyler Strange (Leominster, Mass.) dished out four assists for the Runnin' Bulldogs.

Keon Moore poured in a game-high 27 points to lead the way for Winthrop, knocking down 6-of-10 from the floor, 4-of-5 from downtown, and converting 11-of-13 at the free throw line while also pulling down seven rebounds. Keon Johnson and Jarad Scott each added 10 points, as Xavier Cooks grabbed a team-high eight boards.

Winthrop led for more than 34 minutes in the contest, taking an early 7-2 lead in the first half before Gardner-Webb responded with an 11-6 run, evening the tally at 13-13 on a Strange jumper at the 13:16 mark. The Eagles quickly answered with a 17-3 surge, opening a 30-16 advantage following a Cooks bucket with 4:03 left in the half.

Moore and the Eagles would carry the double-digit lead into the break, as Moore scored the final six points of the first half to send Winthrop into the intermission with a 40-24 advantage.

Gardner-Webb stormed out of the gate in the second half, opening the period with a 17-4 run over the first five minutes, and cutting the lead to 44-41 following a three-point play by Hill at the 15:26 mark. Winthrop kept the Runnin' Bulldogs at arm's length over the next 10 minutes, stretching the margin back to eight at 61-53 on a Johnson trey with 7:17 to play.

The Runnin' Bulldogs would answer once again with a 12-4 run, closing the gap to 65-63 on a Strange three before Dylan Poston (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) tied it up at 65-65, knocking down a tough jumper in the paint with 2:39 left on the clock.

After a pair of Cooks free throws put Winthrop ahead 67-65, Burbage countered with a clutch three-pointer, giving Gardner-Webb its first lead in more than 38 minutes of game time at 68-67 at the 1:30 mark. Winthrop fought back, getting a stop on GWU's ensuing possession and retaking the lead, 69-68, on a tough lay-in by Tevin Prescott with just five ticks left.

Andre Smith would add a pair of free throws with two seconds remaining after forcing a key turnover on the inbound play, sealing the 71-68 victory.

Gardner-Webb returns to the court on Wednesday, February 18 when the Runnin' Bulldogs travel to High Point, N.C. to take on league-leading High Point at 7:00 pm. The Panthers won the first matchup of the season, 84-72, in Paul Porter Arena on January 14.