BOILING SPRINGS – Jose Perez scored 19 points to lead four men in double figures and Gardner-Webb cruised to an 83-67 win over USC Upstate Saturday afternoon.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs (6-11, 2-3 Big South) led wire-to-wire – by as many as 22 points – and averaged 1.15 points per possession in a comfortable performance.  In addition to Perez, Gardner-Webb got to 18 points from Eric Jamison, Jr., 15 points from Jaheam Cornwall and 14 points from Nate Johnson in the win.
 
The victory snapped a three-game losing streak – all close losses – against the league's upper echelon. 
 
Gardner-Webb jumped out to a 15-5 lead to force a timeout by USC Upstate (7-11, 2-3 Big South) and another quick burst midway through the half put the 'Dogs up 25-11 with 9:57 before intermission. Upstate would get no closer than 11 points the rest of the game – and GWU led by as many as 18 in the opening half.
 
Cornwall drained a three with 3.2 seconds left in the half for a 42-26 edge at the break – finishing the opening 20 minutes with a crisp 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting.
 
The lead grew to 22 points with 18:35 to play in the game, when Cornwall followed a 5-0 run by Jose Perez with another long ball. Upstate went to full court pressure and was able to slow Gardner-Webb down a bit, trimming the lead to just 13 points, 57-44, on a Dalvin White trey with 13:50 to go.
 
Perez and Johnson powered another Gardner-Webb spurt, however, putting the 'Dogs up 73-52 with 6:39 on the clock. The Spartans would get no closer than 16 points the rest of the way.
 
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs made 28-of-54 shots (51.9 percent), knocked down 7-of-19 from deep (43.8 percent) and converted nine USC Upstate turnovers into 16 points. GWU shot 57.1 percent in the opening half to seize momentum early and maintain a healthy lead.
 
Upstate shot 46.6 percent for the game, getting 33 points from its bench, but made just eight free throws in 16 trips to the line.
 
Everette Hammond (16 points) and Tommy Bruner (10 points) led four men in double figures. Jatayveous Watson had a late flurry inside to finish with 11 and Bryson Mozone scored 10 off the bench.
 
Gardner-Webb will have little time to rest, as it hosts Hampton on Monday night at 7:00 pm in another key Big South Conference battle. The Pirates, led by the sensational duo of Jermaine Marrow and Ben Stanley, nipped UNC Asheville by an 88-86 score on Saturday.