SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Gardner-Webb shot 57.7 percent in the second half, clamped down on defense and pulled away for a 74-61 win over USC Upstate Wednesday night.

Jose Perez scored a team-high 17 points for the Runnin' Bulldogs (3-5) and Eric Jamison, Jr., scored 16 points to go with 11 rebounds in a game that was a non-conference affair between two Big South Conference teams.

DJ Laster added 13 points and David Efianayi scored 11 points for Gardner-Webb, which wrapped up an eight-game swing away from home in November. The Runnin' Bulldogs open their home slate on Saturday afternoon vs. Savannah State (December 1, 3:00 pm).

Gardner-Webb slowly opened up a double figures lead in the first half, leading 28-19 with under 10 minutes to play before the break. The Spartans (1-6) went to a zone over the final eight minutes of the half and Gardner-Webb scored only twice more the rest of the half – as USC Upstate closed the half on a 14-4 run to trim the margin to just 33-32 at the break.

Upstate tied the score early in the second half, but Gardner-Webb used a series of mini runs to create breathing room – and closed the game out strong with several big buckets from Perez, Laster, Jamison and Efianayi.

The Runnin' Bulldogs shot 49.1 percent for the game (28-of-57), overcoming a frigid 0-for-11 effort from long range in the first half to shoot 4-of-7 in the final 20 minutes from that range (57.1 percent). Driving lanes were open, allowing Gardner-Webb to post a 42-18 edge in paint scoring as well.

Six of Jamison's 11 rebounds were on the offensive glass, with several followed by quick layups from the versatile forward. Perez added six rebounds, made 2-of-4 from deep and knocked down a team-high five free throws in his sixth double figures scoring game of the season.

The Spartans got 18 points from senior Deion Holmes, who added eight rebounds – but took 18 shots in the game. Center Nevin Zink got inside for 10 points, scoring six of those from the charity stripe. Zink also had nine of Upstate's 40 rebounds and contributed to a 23-10 edge in second-chance scoring.

Gardner-Webb will host Savannah State at 3:00 pm on Saturday, December 1 in Paul Porter Arena for its home opener. The game will stream live on ESPN+, with Fabian Fuentes on the call.