BOILING SPRINGS – Eric Jamison, Jr., scored a career-high 23 points and Nate Johnson had a late steal and hit two clutch free throws with 5.2 seconds left to lift Gardner-Webb to a 74-70 win over first-place Winthrop.

With Gardner-Webb clinging to a 72-70 lead with 24.2 seconds left, Winthrop (18-9, 12-2 Big South) came down for a chance to tie or take the lead, but Johnson swiped the ball away from Charles Falden on a drive and was fouled.

The Miami, Fla., junior sank both to put the game out of reach.

Gardner-Webb (11-14, 7-6 Big South) won its third in a row, and did so in front of a loud and boisterous home crowd.

In addition to Jamison's big night, Johnson scored 19 and Jaheam Cornwall continued his late-season surge with 17 points. Kareem Reid had eight points, while Ludovic Dufeal had five points, eight rebounds and five blocked shots.

Christian Turner was a superb facilitator on Thursday, dishing off eight assists.

Gardner-Webb shot an even 50.0 percent for the game (28-of-56), made 7-of-21 from deep (33.3 percent) and took good care of the basketball with only nine turnovers. GWU also assisted on 17 of its 28 baskets.

The Runnin' Bulldogs forced 20 Winthrop turnovers, in part due to 10 steals, and turned those miscues directly into 23 points. 

GWU built an eight point lead in the first half, before Winthrop cut the lead to 30-25 by halftime. The Runnin' Bulldogs led by as many as nine points with 8:22 to play and kept the Eagles at bay the rest of the way. The 'Dogs actually held the lead for more than 35 minutes of game time.

Winthrop struggled early from the perimeter, going 1-of-10 from deep to start the game, but stayed around by pounding – dominating – the offensive backboards. The Eagles finished with 20 offensive caroms and had a 46-27 rebounding edge on the evening.

That dominance didn't factor into the scoreboard as much, however, as the Eagles shot just 40.3 percent from the floor – despite a 57.1 percent effort over the final 20 minutes – and converted just 14 second-chance points for the game.

Falden led Winthrop with 13 points off the bench and D.J. Burns finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and a pair of blocked shots.

Gardner-Webb will enjoy a weekend off, not getting back into action until next Thursday, February 20, at Hampton.