BOILING SPRINGS --- Senior Tyler Strange (Leominster, Mass.) poured in a game-high 23 points to go along with a contest-best nine assists to lead Gardner-Webb to a 91-81 win over Charleston Southern in Big South Conference play on Senior Night in Paul Porter Arena Thursday night.

With the win, Gardner-Webb (18-12, 10-7 Big South) ties its win total from last season and, coupled with losses by Winthrop, Radford and UNC Asheville Thursday night, jumps into sixth in the Big South standings and one game out of fourth place.

The Runnin' Bulldogs knocked down 56.4 percent of their attempts from the floor on the night, including a 63 percent clip in the second half, while holding Charleston Southern (18-10, 12-5 Big South) to a field goal percentage of 45 percent on the night. Gardner-Webb won the battle on the glass by a 33-27 margin, including a 23-15 advantage on the defensive boards.

Strange led all scorers with 23 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including 15 in the first half after he connected on his first five shots from downtown. The senior guard also dished out a game-high nine assists to go along with three steals. Jerome Hill (Adel, Ga.) recorded 18 points and eight boards on the night, moving within four points of tying Grayson Flittner for second on the program's Division I all-time scoring list.

Tyrell Nelson (Charlotte, N.C.) chipped in 18 points off the bench, as seniors Corey Hensley (Candler, N.C.) and Adam Sweeney (Madison, Ohio) each got the start – including the first career inclusion in the starting five for Sweeney on Senior Night. Senior Jarvis Davis (Columbia, S.C.) connected on 4-of-6 from the floor, including a 3-for-5 clip from downtown, to add 15 points of his own.

Saah Nimley led the way for Charleston Southern with 23 points, converting 14-of-16 at the free throw line, and dishing out three assists. Arlon Harper and Aaron Wheeler added 22 and 19 points, respectively, while Will Saunders chipped in 11 points off the bench.

Gardner-Webb never trailed on the night, knocking down its first seven shots from behind the arc to open a 24-13 lead following three straight treys from Strange, the last coming at the 12:02 mark of the first half. Charleston Southern would answer with a 16-7 run over the next seven minutes, closing to within two at 31-29 after Harper nailed a three with 5:19 left on the clock.

The Runnin' Bulldogs quickly countered with a 13-8 spurt, pushing the margin back to seven at 44-37 heading into the break. Strange and the Runnin' Bulldogs turned up the heat in the second half, answering an early Wheeler bucket with a 17-10 run to open a 61-49 advantage on a Hill jumper with 14:07 to play.

Charleston Southern responded with a 6-2 spurt, closing the gap to 63-55 before Gardner-Web regained control with a 13-7 run, effectively putting the game out of reach on a three-pointer by Dylan Poston (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) at the 8:21 mark. The Runnin' Bulldogs closed out the win from there, weathering a late charge by the Buccaneers to seal the 10-point victory.

Gardner-Webb closes out the regular season on Saturday, February 28 when the Runnin' Bulldogs travel to Radford, Va. to take on Radford. The Runnin' Bulldogs defeated the Highlanders, 88-85, in double overtime on January 8 in Paul Porter Arena.