ROCK HILL, S.C. – Gardner-Webb (4-4) took down Winthrop (3-5) on Saturday in Rock Hill as they defeated the Eagles 63-61. Lucas Stieber had seven points and a pair of go-ahead buckets to give the Runnin' Bulldogs the win on the road.
 
Winthrop held a 32-31 lead heading into the halftime break, erasing an early GWU seven-point lead.
 
Coming into the second half, Winthrop's Sin'Cere McMahon had a go-ahead jumper with over 13 minutes to play to give them a lead over the next ten minutes. The Eagles led by as many as nine during the stretch.
 
Gardner-Webb surged to an 11-2 run and put the 'Dogs ahead 57-56 as Lucas Stieber converted a three with two minutes to play. Corey Hightower tied the game again after making a free throw before Stieber scored on back-to-back possessions and put GWU ahead by four with 25 seconds to play.
 
The Eagles were sent to the line and converted all four shots in the closing minute while GWU went 2-4. With 3.9 left to play, Winthrop had the final possession of the afternoon and raced up the court to give McMahon a chance for the win from the wing, but his shot went off the back of the rim to give the 'Dogs the win.
 
Ludovic Dufeal led the team with 12 points and DQ Nicholas added 11 to also finish in double figures. Dufeal finished a perfect 4-4 from the floor and hit on a shot from deep during the game. Stieber and Kareem Reid each had nine while Ademide Badmus finished with seven as he also went a perfect 3-3 from the floor.
 
Stieber led the team as he dished out seven assists and tied his career-high in steals with three. Dufeal and Reid each had a pair of swipes with Reid also adding two blocks.
 
Gardner-Webb shot 44% (24-54) from the floor but struggled from the line shooting 43% (10-23). Each team converted five shots from deep with GWU making 42% to WU's 29%. Winthrop was also held to just 37% (16-43) from the floor while shooting 80% (24-30) at the line.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs took care of the ball as they only turned it over 6 times to the Eagles' 16. Winthrop came away with a 42-29 advantage on the glass as well and turned it into a 15-5 margin in second-chance points. GWU created a clear edge in the paint as they outscored WU 38-20 in it.
 
Gardner-Webb will be back in action on Wednesday, January 25 as they host USC Upstate (4-4) for a White Out in a battle for fourth place in the league standings. The game will mark the end of the first half of the conference slate as the race for the top seeds in the Big South Tournament heats up.