BOILING SPRINGS – David Efianayi scored 18 points and Nate Johnson had 14 to lead Gardner-Webb to a 64-60 win over Winthrop Saturday in a key Big South Conference men's basketball game.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs (17-10, 7-5 Big South) improved to 11-0 at home this season and snapped a 10-game losing streak to the Eagles (17-9, 9-4 Big South). Gardner-Webb has won 23 of its last 25 in Paul Porter Arena.
 
With several legendary alumni, including Naismith Hall of Famer Artis Gilmore, in attendance, Gardner-Webb rode the momentum of a large crowd to a 42-25 lead by halftime. GWU shot a sturdy 56.2 percent in that frame, making 18-of-32 from the floor and harassing Winthrop into eight turnovers and 27.8 percent shooting.
 
Efianayi had 12 of his points by intermission and Johnson had eight.
 
The second half was much less picture perfect, as the Runnin' Bulldogs missed 13 of 14 shots (7.1%) to start the final 20 minutes, allowing Winthrop to slowly put together a 12-2 run to trim the lead all the way down to 47-41 with 11:49 to play in the game.
 
Gardner-Webb responded with five quick points, as Efianayi drove for a layup and Johnson drained a corner three with 8:17 left to push the lead to 52-41. Jose Perez drove for a layup with 8:05 left to make the score 54-43, but Winthrop would eventually tighten things up with less than a minute to play.
 
Michael Anumba made a pair of free throws with 58.5 seconds to play, trimming GWU's lead to 59-55. Johnson then converted on one of two chances to give Gardner-Webb a 60-55 advantage with 19.2 seconds left.
 
Nych Smith connected on two free throws with 13 seconds left to cut the lead to three points, and had a chance to tie the game with 9.8 seconds left after a missed free throw by the 'Dogs. Kyle Zunic's chance was hard off the rim and Eric Jamison, Jr., scored the rebound.'
 
The East Point, Ga., junior bounced both chances through for a 62-57 lead with only 5.3 seconds on the clock. Smith drained a long three-pointer with 0.8 seconds left and the Eagles' fouled Efianayi – but the senior sank both his chances for the final margin.
 
Gardner-Webb finished the day by shooting 40.0 percent from the floor, after a tough second half (6-of-28 / 21.4 percent). The 'Dogs turned the ball over just six times, however, and held a 14-7 edge in points off of turnovers after nine steals and 14 turnovers by the Eagles.
 
In addition to Efianayi and Johnson, Gardner-Webb got nine points from DJ Laster an eight from Jamison. Perez finished with four points, six rebounds and five assists and played solid defense. Jamison added seven rebounds.
 
Winthrop had a tough shooting night overall, making just 22-of-69 chances (31.9 percent) and 10-of-40 from long distance (25.0 percent). The Eagles did have a 51-37 rebounding edge and a 16-6 advantage in second-chance scoring, but fell victim to 14 costly turnovers.
 
Gardner-Webb also held a 34-20 edge in paint points and led for nearly 36 minutes.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs hit the road for a pair next week, beginning at UNC Asheville on Thursday night at 7:00 pm (February 21). GWU plays at High Point next Saturday.