CLINTON, S.C. – David Efianayi tied a career high with 31 points and Gardner-Webb cruised to a 78-63 road win at Presbyterian Thursday night.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (13-17, 8-9 Big South) led by as many as 23 points in the first half and 29 in the second half in a very efficient offensive performance.

Gardner-Webb averaged 1.238 points per possession, shot 53.8 percent overall and made 17 layups or dunks in the win.

Efianayi was 10-of-15 from the floor, including a 4-of-5 night from long distance, and made seven free throws. Liam O'Reilly added 11 points and a career-high 10 assists, and DJ Laster scored all 10 of his markers in the first half. It was Gardner-Webb's first road win since January 3.

Patrick Zeck finished with seven points and nine rebounds in the post and Jaheam Cornwall knocked down seven points to go with three assists in his second-straight start.

The Runnin' Bulldogs led from start to finish.

Gardner-Webb slowly built a 7-0 lead and led 9-3 by the 16-minute media timeout, setting an early tone with hard work on the defensive end of the floor and crisp passing on the offensive end. 

That lead grew to 19-6 as Presbyterian went more than three minutes without a field goal and the Blue Hose remained cold as the clock ticked down near eight minutes. 

Gardner-Webb took advantage – surging ahead 23-8 on a David Efianayi drive with 8:08 remaining before the half.

Gardner-Webb was very effective inside early, scoring 18 of its first 25 points in the paint. Laster shook free for a pair of alley oops and another dunk, as the 'Dogs made eight layups or dunks in the game's first 14 minutes.

The Runnin' Bulldogs continued a high level of activity on both ends and pushed their lead to 38-15 after a pair of Efianayi three-pointers and another Laster dunk with 2:49 left before the half.

Presbyterian found a rhythm after calling a timeout, going on a quick, 7-0 run to trim Gardner-Webb's lead to 38-22 with 1:41 on the clock.

The Runnin' Bulldogs answered with two more interior buckets from Efianayi and led 42-24 at the break.

Presbyterian scored on three of its first four possessions to start the second half, but Gardner-Webb was able to match and push its lead back to 20 points.

Gardner-Webb went on another run, getting a 12-4 spurt to go up 65-36 on an Efianayi layup on the break with 11:40 left in the game.

Presbyterian had a run in its future as well, and the Blue Hose drained a trio of three-pointers to go with a driving layup to mount an 11-2 charge and force a Gardner-Webb timeout with 9:36 left and the score sitting at 67-47.

The Blue Hose made four consecutive field goals during the run, with Reggie Dillard striking for a pair of long distance makes.

Gardner-Webb recovered, getting stops and breaking a two-minute drought with a layup from O'Reilly and two Efianayi free throws to go up 71-47 by the eight-minute media timeout (7:54).

The Runnin' Bulldogs had an offensive cold spell, not scoring for more than two minutes, and the Blue Hose used another spurt to pull within 74-57 on a Romeo Crouch three-pointer from the corner with 4:25 left.

Efianayi responded with a layup, and made two free throws with 3:33 left to get Gardner-Webb back on the board and the Blue Hose would not make any serious threats on the lead.

Presbyterian shot 44.1 percent for the game, using a 50.0 percent effort in the second half to overcome its very slow start.

Dillard finished with 16 points and the duo of Ruben Arroyo and J.C. Younger each had 13 points for the Blue Hose.

The Runnin' Bulldogs will close out the regular season on Saturday, February 24, hosting UNC Asheville at 4:30 pm on Senior Day in Paul Porter Arena.

The game will stream live on ESPN3 (WatchESPN), with Evan Lepler and Jeff Jackson on the call.