SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Jaheam Cornwall and D'Maurian Williams each scored 17 points to lead four men in double figures, but Gardner-Webb fell short on the road at USC Upstate, 77-69, Monday afternoon.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (8-12, 7-8 Big South) saw their six-game win streak against the Spartans (4-13, 4-7 Big South) snapped in the process. It was Gardner-Webb's first road game since January 10 due to schedule adjustments made by the Big South Conference.

Cornwall scored 15 of his points in the first half, helping erase a 10-point deficit and pulling the visitors within 30-28 at the break. The Spartans continued to make plays when needed – on both ends – in the second half, enough to keep the game at a two-possession margin for much of the final 20 minutes.

Gardner-Webb got within 39-36 on a Ludovic Dufeal layup – off a feed from Cornwall – but Upstate scored the game's next six points to go up 45-36. The Runnin' Bulldogs again charged back, getting within 45-43 on back-to-back buckets from Jordan Sears and a transition basket from Williams with 10:44 to go, but the surprising Spartans went on a 5-0 run to space it out.

A three-pointer by Sears with 9:07 left made the score 50-48 – but a basket and two consecutive steals and run outs by USC Upstate pushed the score to 56-48 quickly.

Gardner-Webb would not be able to get closer than six points the rest of the way, with Upstate making enough plays late in possessions – and forcing GWU to burn clock on the other end – to pick up its first win over the Runnin' Bulldogs since January 10, 2008.

In addition to Cornwall and Williams, Gardner-Webb got 12 points from Sears and 10 points from Kareem Reid. The Runnin' Bulldogs shot 42.9 percent for the game – including a 53.6 percent effort in the second half. The 'Dogs were just 9-of-26 from long range and saw Upstate command a +9 edge on the glass (37-28).

The Spartans shot a sizzling 55.2 percent in the second half to hold off Gardner-Webb and finished at 45.5 percent for the game. Upstate also connected on 19-of-21 free throws, which helped hold GWU at bay.

Tommy Bruner overcame a slow start to finish with 19 points, Nevin Zink added 12 and Everette Hammond scored 11. Bryson Mozone scored nine key points off the bench in the opening half for the Spartans.

Gardner-Webb will hit the road again this week, traveling to Farmville, Va., on Thursday for a two-game series vs. Longwood.