BOILING SPRINGS – Freshman guard D'Maurian Williams scored a career-high 21 points Sunday afternoon to lead Gardner-Webb to a 74-62 win over Charleston Southern in Paul Porter Arena.

Williams scored 13 of his total after halftime, as Gardner-Webb (5-9, 4-5 Big South) led by as many as 21 points and didn't see its lead drop below double digits over the final 26:44 of regulation. 

The Runnin' Bulldogs closed the first half on a 13-3 run to lead 44-26 at the break, capped by a highlight reel Jamaine Mann dunk and free throw with 26.3 seconds to go.

Charleston Southern (1-12, 0-9 Big South) took the early lead, but saw Gardner-Webb zip to a 12-0 run that turned the game on its ear. GWU led 17-5 after a Jaheam Cornwall trey and controlled the game the rest of the way.

The Bucs were led, as usual, by Big South star Phlandrous Fleming's game-high 32 points. Fleming added four steals, three assists and seven rebounds – and was the lone Charleston Southern starter to score in the first half. Melvin Edwards, Jr., and Sadarius Bowser each had seven points in the game for CSU.

In addition to Williams' hot-shooting day, Gardner-Webb got 16 points and four assists from classmate Jordan Sears and a double-double from Kareem Reid (13 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks). Cornwall added nine points and seven assists (one turnover) in a strong afternoon from his point guard spot and Jacob Falko scored six points, dished off a career-high eight assists.

The Runnin' Bulldogs were effective passing the basketball, assisting on 22 of 27 made baskets with only 13 turnovers. After a 50 percent shooting effort in the first half, Gardner-Webb cooled to a game percentage of 44.3 percent (27-of-61) – but drained 13-of-32 from long distance (40.6 percent).

GWU also dominated the glass, pulling down 42 boards (12 offensive). That translated into the home team trailing for a scant 20 seconds in the game.

Charleston Southern shot 38.2 percent for the game, made 8-of-30 from deep (26.7 percent) and coughed up 16 turnovers. CSU did turn six offensive rebounds into seven second-chance points on the day.

Fleming scored more than half of the team's points, made nearly half of its overall field goals (10-of-18) and knocked in nine of his team's 12 made free throws in 38 strong minutes.

The two teams will get back at it Monday afternoon at 4:00 pm, with Fabian Fuentes and Coach Jerry Dunn calling the action on ESPN+ from Paul Porter Arena.