ROCK HILL, S.C. – Winthrop closed the first half on a 10-0 run and finished the game on a 4-0 run to hold off Gardner-Webb, 75-65, Saturday afternoon in Big South Conference action.

Jordan Sears scored a career-high 18 points for Gardner-Webb (3-7, 2-3 Big South) and Jaheam Cornwall netted 17 points, but it wasn't enough as  the Eagles (10-0, 7-0 Big South) became the first team in league history to get out to a 10-0 start.

A defensive battle saw the game tied, 13-13, after nearly 10 minutes of the first half had been contested. Winthrop found some success over the next six minutes, going on a 12-3 run to create a 25-16 cushion on DJ Burns running hook.

Sears drove for a layup with 4:11 to go before half to stem that tide and delivered a three-pointer off an assist from Cornwall with 2:08 to play before halftime to cap a 6-0 run that pulled Gardner-Webb within a single point.

Winthrop took over the rest of the half, quickly closing on a 10-0 run to take a 35-24 lead into the locker room.

A Kyle Zunic three-pointer to start the second half pushed Winthrop's lead to 14 points, but Cornwall sparked a 10-0 run by the Runnin' Bulldogs that saw the visiting side cut the lead to 38-34 with 15:43 to play on a layup by Jacob Falko. An 8-0 counter punch from the Eagles swung control of the game, and Winthrop held a lead of at least eight points until midway through the half.

A three-pointer from Ludovic Dufeal sparked another Gardner-Webb rally, this time an 11-3 spurt that got the lead back down to six with 5:06 to play. An old fashioned three point conversion just after the four minute media timeout by Sears cut the lead to six once again with 3:21 left – but Gardner-Webb went on a drought of nearly two minutes as Winthrop stubbornly held onto its lead.

A layup and free throw by Cornwall with 44.2 seconds left made the score 68-63, but the Eagles made eight free throws down the stretch to keep the lead safe.

Gardner-Webb shot 34.9 percent for the game and limited Winthrop to 34.4 percent – but saw the Eagles make 11 three-point baskets and 20-of-25 free throws. Gardner-Webb managed just seven made threes and shot 14-of-21 from the stripe.

The Runnin' Bulldogs saw three men foul out, but stayed close on the glass (48-44) with 10 offensive caroms to their credit.

Falko (10 rebounds) and Jamaine Mann each scored seven points for Gardner-Webb, Dufeal scored six and both Anthony Selden and Kareem Reid had five points for the 'Dogs.

Adonis Arms came off the bench for a team-high 17 points to lead Winthrop, with Chandler Vaudrin (12 points, seven boards, eight assists) and Michael Anumba (10 points, seven rebounds) also getting in to double figures scoring.

The two teams will lace their sneakers up again on Sunday, with opening tip set for 1:00 pm in Rock Hill, S.C.