BOILING SPRINGS --- Jerome Hill (Adel, Ga.) recorded his 15th double-double of the season to lead five Gardner-Webb players in double figures as the Runnin' Bulldogs defeated Liberty, 77-67, in Big South Conference play on Saturday evening in Paul Porter Arena.

Gardner-Webb (17-12, 9-7 Big South) shot 43.1 percent from the floor on the night, including a 47.8 percent clip in the second half, as Liberty (7-22, 1-15 Big South) knocked down 60 percent of its attempts in the final 20 minutes, raising its shooting percentage to 44.1 percent for the game.

The Runnin' Bulldogs won the battle on the glass by a 37-34 margin, including a 25-21 advantage on the defensive boards, while converting 26-of-35 (74.3 percent) at the free throw line.

Hill led the way for Gardner-Webb with 22 points and 13 rebounds, posting his 15th double-double of the season. Harold McBride (Bronx, N.Y.) added 16 points and six rebounds, as Adonis Burbage (Orlando, Fla.) and Jarvis Davis (Columbia, S.C.) each tallied 11 points.

Tyrell Nelson (Charlotte, N.C.) chipped in 10 points and six boards, while Tyler Strange (Leominster, Mass.) dished out a game-high eight assists to move into second on the Big South's all-time list with 612 career dimes.

Theo Johnson paced the Flames with 15 points, while David Andoh added 11 points and seven boards. Andrew Smith and Jordan Dembley each chipped in 10 points as Smith pulled down nine boards to nearly account for a double-double.

Gardner-Webb never trailed in the contest, jumping out to an early 20-8 lead at the 11:26 mark following a pair of freebies by Hill. The Flames would cut it to seven before the Runnin' Bulldogs responded, closing out the half with an 8-4 spurt to take a 35-24 advantage into the break.

Liberty bounced back in the early moments of the second half, cutting the margin to 44-40 with a 16-9 run that was capped by a three-point play by Andoh at the 14:18 mark. Gardner-Webb quickly answered with a 14-7 spurt, pushing the margin to 59-47 with 7:27 to play on a McBride trey.

The Runnin' Bulldogs kept pushing the tempo over the next seven minutes, opening its largest lead of the game, 73-57, inside the final minute on a fast break tip-in by Hill. The Flames would knock down a pair of late threes to cut the advantage to 10 and equal the final margin of 77-67.

Gardner-Webb returns to the court on Thursday, February 26 when the Runnin' Bulldogs host Charleston Southern at 7:00 pm in Paul Porter Arena. The Runnin' Bulldogs will recognize the accomplishments of seniors Adam Sweeney (Madison, Ohio), Corey Hensley (Candler, N.C.), Davis and Strange prior to tip-off as part of their senior night festivities.