BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb cut a double figures lead to six points late on Thursday night, but Longwood closed on a 6-0 run to hold off the Runnin' Bulldogs 75-63.

Gardner-Webb (15-14, 10-7 Big South) trailed by as many as 18 points in the second half against the defending league champions, but kept battling back.

Longwood (20-10, 12-5 Big South) led by 12 at halftime and pushed the lead to 14 on its first possession in the second half. Gardner-Webb answered quickly, going on a 6-0 run to trim the lead to 39-31 on a pair of Lucas Stieber.

The Lancers answered, using a 13-2 run to go up 57-39 with 11:08 to play on an Isaiah Wilkins three. Gardner-Webb rallied once again, getting a long three from Quest Aldridge, three points from Kareem Reid and a layup from Caleb Robinson to cut the lead to 57-47 by the 8:42 mark.

Each time Gardner-Webb mounted an attack, Longwood responded. Stieber gave the crowd life when he drained a three with 4:44 to play – and Aldridge made the score 67-61 with 1:57 to play. A pair of Robinson free throws cut the lead back to six – 69-63 – with 70 seconds left, but Longwood closed the game with six free throws in a row for the final margin.

Gardner-Webb shot 40.4 percent for the game (21-of-52) and stayed close on the glass, but missed eight free throws and fell victim to 14 turnovers – 11 in the first half. Longwood converted those miscues into 15 points and halted several important possessions for the Runnin' Bulldogs.

DQ Nicholas led GWU with 14 points and Reid had 11 on Senior Night for the 'Dogs. Lucas Stieber added nine and both Ludovic Dufeal and Aldridge had eight.

Longwood shot 43.1 percent for the game (25-of-58), made 8-of-17 from deep and knocked down 17-of-23 from the free throw line. Wilkins led four men in double figures with 14 points.

Gardner-Webb will close out its regular season on Saturday afternoon, taking on USC Upstate in Spartanburg, S.C., at 3:00 pm (ESPN+).