BOILING SPRINGS – DJ Laster scored 23 points, David Efianayi added 19 and Jose Perez posted a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds to lead Gardner-Webb to a 78-70 win over Presbyterian Wednesday night.

Gardner-Webb (19-11, 9-6 Big South) improved to 12-0 at home this season and moved into a tie for fourth pace with the Blue Hose (17-13, 9-6 Big South) with one game remaining in the regular season. GWU has won 13 in a row in Paul Porter Arena overall and is 24-2 in the building since the end of the 2016-2017 season.

Laster scored 18 of his 23 points in a dominant first half for the Runnin' Bulldogs, who built a 20-point lead with 2:09 to play before the half. His start was part of an effort that saw GWU make 9-of-10 shots over the first five minutes of the game.

Gardner-Webb shot a sizzling 56.3 percent for the first half – its fourth consecutive half of 50 percent or better – to build a 45-31 lead by intermission.

Efianayi scored the first four points in the second half to put Gardner-Webb up by 18 early on and went on to pass former All-Big South forward Tyrell Nelson for first place on the program's Division I career scoring list. The Orlando, Fla., native finished the game with 1,671 career points.

Presbyterian went on an extended 21-9 run over the next seven minutes to whittle the lead down to two possessions on a JC Younger trey with 10:28 to play.

Gardner-Webb would take a 70-61 lead on an Efianayi drive and layup with 5:25 to play, but the Blue Hose responded with a 7-0 run over the next three minutes to trail just 70-68 when Francois Lewis slipped a screen for a layup with 2:10 remaining.

Efianayi shook free for a layup with 1:44 left to push the lead to 72-68 – and break Nelson's career scoring mark. 

The Runnin' Bulldogs got a stop and pushed the ball ahead – then fought for an offensive rebound on its next possession. GWU got a big play on the ensuing baseline out of bounds play, when Jaheam Cornwall tossed a perfect lob to Efianayi with only one second left on the shot clock.

That made the score for 74-68 with 46 seconds to play and Gardner-Webb pushed the lead back to double figures when Perez salted the game away with two free throws.

Gardner-Webb shot a cold 12-of-32 in the second half (37.5 percent) and finished at just 46. He 9 percent for the game. The Runnin' Bulldogs did control the interior, primarily with Laster's help, for a 46-34 edge in paint scoring.

In addition to the double figures trio, Gardner-Webb got eight points and six assists from Cornwall – in a key performance off the bench. Nate Johnson overcame a tough shooting night with six points, eight rebounds and two steals.

Presbyterian played Wednesday night without Big South assist leader Davon Bell, but got a strong combined performance from reserve point guards Kody Shubert (six points) and Chris Martin (nine points) in his absence.

Adam Flagler finished with 16 points on 6-of-17 shooting (3-of-10 from long range), Younger came off the bench to score 14 points and Lewis added 12 points and eight boards.

The Blue Hose struggled shooting the basketball for much of the night, shooting 38.7 percent in the opening half and 41.5 percent for the game. That included a 9-of-32 mark from three-point range (28.1 percent).

Gardner-Webb held a slight edge on the glass (39-38), but saw the Blue Hose turn 12 offensive caroms into 11 second-chance points. The Runnin' Bulldogs led for the final 36:39 of Wednesday's game.

Gardner-Webb will host Longwood for its regular season finale on Saturday, with first tip set for 3:00 pm. The game will serve as Senior Day for veterans Efianayi, Laster and Brandon Miller.