ROCK HILL, S.C. – Gardner-Webb ran into a hot shooting Winthrop squad Monday night and dropped a 90-67 road test in Big South men's basketball action.

The Eagles (9-8, 3-3 Big South) made 12 three-point baskets in the game and shot 60.6 percent overall in the second half to put the game out of reach.
 
Gardner-Webb (9-10, 4-2 Big South) had three separate scoring droughts in the game that lasted more than three minutes.

Gardner-Webb dealt with serious foul issues for much of the opening half, but remained within one possession by the 3:24 media timeout. Winthrop was able to build a comfortable working margin by intermission – closing on a 7-0 run to lead 38-30 at the break – and continued to build early in the second half.

After Justin Jenkins trimmed the lead to 31-30 with a three-pointer, Winthrop closed the half with its big run to regain control of the game. Gardner-Webb closed the half by making just 1-of-10 shots and missed seven straight heading into the locker room – not scoring over the half's final 4:18.

Winthrop continued to fire away from long range in the second half, getting consecutive treys from Adam Pickett and Bjorn Broman to go up 48-36 with 16:31 left in the game. 

The Eagles started the second half on fire, making seven of its first eight shots to construct a sizable lead, which would reach as large as 18 points with 14:40 to play.

Gardner-Webb would push back within 11 points (61-50) but Winthrop found its range again from long distance to extend its lead to 68-52.

Winthrop pushed its lead to 84-64 on another three-pointer by Pickett with 2:43 left in the game, the first time the Runnin' Bulldogs have trailed by 20 points in a league game this season.

Gardner-Webb got a game-high 21 points from David Efianayi, but could not get enough stops to make a run in the second half. The Runnin' Bulldogs shot just 38.6 percent for the game (27-of-70), despite a hot start to the second half.

Laster added 13 points and Robateau came off the bench to score 10 for the Runnin' Bulldogs. Gardner-Webb's leading scorer in Big South action, Liam O'Reilly, started the game 1-of-10 before finishing with 12 points (5-of-15) with five rebounds and three assists.

O'Reilly was forced to play more at point guard Monday with sixth man Jaheam Cornwall still sidelined by an injury and starter Christian Turner in foul trouble.

The Eagles' Xavier Cooks flirted with a triple-double Monday, finishing with 17 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists – with many of his helpers coming on drives and kick outs to guards for three-point looks.

Winthrop put five men in double figures, led by Josh Ferguson (17), Adam Pickett (17) and Cooks. Bjorn Broman added 11, Charles Falden scored 10 and Anders Broman had eight.

The Eagles finished at 53.2 percent for the game and dominated the backboards (44-30). That led to a 21-4 edge in second-chance points and 40 points in the paint.

The Runnin' Bulldogs have no time to rest, hosting Presbyterian on Thursday night at 7:00 pm in Paul Porter Arena.