BOILING SPRINGS – David Efianayi scored 13 of his 18 points in the second half and Gardner-Webb held off USC Upstate for a 64-59 win Saturday in a sloppy Big South Conference tilt.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs (11-6, 1-1 Big South) improved to 6-0 at home in Paul Porter Arena this season and have now won 19 of 21 in Boiling Springs. Gardner-Webb also got 12 points from DJ Laster, 12 from Nate Johnson and eight from Jose Perez in the win.
 
Laster added a team-high nine boards.
 
The game was marred by choppy play on the offensive end, with the two teams combining for 39 turnovers. With seven minutes left in the game, each team had more turnovers than field goals.
 
Gardner-Webb had a 34-26 lead at halftime, but were hampered by a stretch of more than seven minutes without a field goal – and USC Upstate drained a handful of three-pointers during the stretch to eventually take the lead on a three-point jumper late in the shot clock from reserve Dalvin White with 9:02 remaining.
 
Laster tied the score at 46 with a pair of free throws on the next trip down the court for Gardner-Webb and gave GWU the lead on a driving layup with 6:57 to play. Efianayi gave GWU the lead for good with 6:10 to play on a slash to the rim and put the 'Dogs up four with a pair of free throws moments later.
 
Gardner-Webb would eventually build its lead as large as eight points on a layup and free throw from Eric Jamison, Jr. with 3:11 remaining. A three-pointer from Pat Welch with eight seconds left cut the lead to 64-59.
 
USC Upstate opened the game with a quick 7-0 run, but Jaheam Cornwall and Perez led a Gardner-Webb charge that saw the Runnin' Bulldogs take a 10-9 lead on Cornwell's nifty feed to Ludovic Dufeal with 14:48 left in the first half.
 
Perez drained a three with 13:05 left in the half to give Gardner-Webb the lead for good until intermission – and connected on another trey at the buzzer to build the lead to 34-26 at the break.
 
Gardner-Webb shot 54.2 percent in the first half and overcame a cold second half to finish at 47.6 percent for the game. The 'Dogs were efficient from behind the arc, making 7-of-11 chances (63.6 percent) and the team knocked down 17-of-22 free throws (77.3 percent).
 
The slow paced game still allowed GWU to shake free for 26 points in the paint and a +10 edge in that area. The 'Dogs also blocked five shots and held even on the glass (27-27).
 
Upstate shot just 40 percent from the floor overall (20-of-50), but drained 11-of-31 from long range to hang close. Many of those makes came from well beyond the arc and late in the shot clock.
 
Big man Nevin Zink was tough to guard inside, connecting on 8-of-10 shots for 18 points to go with nine rebounds. Welch drained 4-of-7 from long range to finish with 12 points and White came off the bench to make a trio from deep for nine points. 
 
No other Spartan had more than six points in the game.
 
Gardner-Webb will face another tough road test on Thursday night, taking on preseason favorite and defending Big South champion Radford at 9:00 pm on January 17. The game will air live on national television, with ESPNU carrying the action.