HIGH POINT, N.C. --- High Point strung together a 17-6 surge late in the second half to pull away for an 83-62 victory over Gardner-Webb in Big South Conference play Wednesday night, placing five players in double figures and knocking down over 65 percent of its attempts from long range.
High Point (20-7, 11-4 Big South) shot 57.9 percent from the floor on the night, including an 18-for-26 effort in the second half, as Gardner-Webb (16-12, 8-7 Big South) connected on 21-of-58 (36.2 percent) from the field. The Runnin' Bulldogs edged the Panthers on the glass, 33-32, including a 12-6 advantage on the offensive boards, while High Point outscored GWU on the fast break, 14-4.
Tyrell Nelson (Charlotte, N.C.) led the way for Gardner-Webb with 14 points and seven rebounds, as Adonis Burbage (Orlando, Fla.) added 13 points with a 5-for-10 night from the floor. Jerome Hill (Adel, Ga.) tallied 12 points and eight rebounds, recording the 700th board of his career while moving within one of a tie for eighth on the program's all-time list.
Harold McBride (Bronx, N.Y.) chipped in 10 points, seven rebounds and four steals while Tyler Strange (Leominster, Mass.) dished out five assists.
Lorenzo Cugini paced the Panthers with a game-high 19 points, connecting on 7-of-8 from the floor and 4-of-5 from downtown to lead five Panthers in double figures. Brian Richardson and Tarique Thompson added 15 and 13 points, respectively, as Haiishen McIntyre chipped in 10 points off the bench.
The Runnin' Bulldogs started off strong, scoring the game's first five points on a pair of Burbage buckets before High Point answered with 14 of the next 18 points, evening the tally at 9-9 and taking a 14-9 lead following two Brown freebies at the 14:53 mark. The Panthers extended the run to 20-4 over the next two minutes, pushing the margin to 20-9 with a Thompson lay-in with 12:20 left in the half.
Gardner-Webb countered with an 8-2 spurt, closing the gap to 22-17 on a fast break slam by Nelson off a McBride steal at the 9:32 mark. The Runnin' Bulldogs kept pushing, countered a pair of quick High Point baskets with a 6-0 spurt to close the gap to 26-23 with 5:07 left on the clock.
High Point responded with an 11-2 surge to close out the half, carrying a 37-25 advantage into the break following a Cugini runner at the 1:31 mark.
The Panthers came out firing in the second half, opening the period with a 10-4 run to stretch the lead to 47-29 with 16:28 to play. Gardner-Webb fought back with a 19-11 spurt, cutting the margin to 58-48 at the 8:08 mark after a tough runner by Burbage tickled the twine off the glass.
High Point quickly answered with a 17-6 surge, widening the gap to 75-54 on a Cugini trey with 3:06 to play. The Panthers closed out the win from there, holding Gardner-Webb to eight points in the final three minutes.
Gardner-Webb returns to the court on Saturday, February 21 when the Runnin' Bulldogs host Liberty in Big South play at 7:00 pm. The game will air live on the Big South Network.
