SAVANNAH, Ga. – Jose Perez matched his career-high with 23 points, David Efianayi scored 20 and Gardner-Webb rolled to a 97-77 road win at Savannah State Friday night.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs (1-3) lived up to their nickname Friday, building a 51-37 lead by halftime and keeping the energy level high until the final buzzer against the high-scoring Tigers (2-3).
 
Perez made 9-of-14 from the floor, knocked down 4-of-6 free throws and corralled six rebounds to equal his career-high – which was set just three days ago in an overtime loss at Furman. Efianayi was an efficient 7-of-12 from the floor en route to his first 20-point outing of the season, as Gardner-Webb shot a sizzling 54.5 percent from the floor and made 15-of-18 free throws.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs played without starter and All-Big South forward DJ Laster on Friday, who was out with a minor injury, but got an impressive performance from redshirt junior forward Eric Jamison, Jr., in the paint. 
 
Jamison went 9-for-9 from the floor for 18 points and pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds in a very important performance. It was the East Point, Ga., native's second double figures scoring game in a row. 
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs also got strong performances from Jaheam Cornwall (11 points, five assists, six rebounds) and Nate Johnson (11 points, three assists, three steals) in the backcourt.
 
Gardner-Webb led for all but 24 seconds in the game and was solid on the defensive end – limiting Savannah State to 37.1 percent shooting and cleaning up the backboards when the Tigers missed for a 47-34 edge on the glass.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs turned their 14-point halftime lead into a 23-point bulge with an 18-9 run out of the break. The 'Dogs made 7-of-11 shots during that stretch, led by seven points from Perez and six from Jamison.
 
Savannah State heated up late in the game from long range, trimming the lead to 12 points – but Gardner-Webb closed the game on a 10-2 run.
 
The Tigers were led by 19 points each from Zach Sellers and Jaquan Dotson and made 12-of-47 from long range (25.5 percent) as a team.
 
The two teams will meet again on Saturday, December 1 in Boiling Springs to open Gardner-Webb's home schedule.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs will remain on the road next week, traveling to Asheville, N.C., for the 2018 VisitCurrituckOBX.com Battle in the Blue Ridge Tournament. Gardner-Webb opens the event on Friday at 5:00 pm. All games for the three-day event will be held at the Cellular One Center in Asheville.