BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Graduate guard Anthony Selden scored a team-high 20 points while leading the Gardner-Webb (7-9, 2-1) men's basketball team to an 89-83 win over visiting Winthrop University (11-7, 1-2) on Wednesday evening inside Paul Porter Arena. The Runnin' Bulldogs placed four scorers in double-figures on the night.
 
Sophomore guard Darryl Simmons II tallied 17 points, including five triples while graduate forward Jamaine Mann and junior guard Pharrell Boyogueno chipped in 14 and 13 points, respectively. Mann also pulled down a game-high seven rebounds. As a team, Gardner-Webb was dominant on the glass, outrebounding the Eagles 39-28.
 
The game was decided at the free throw line as the Runnin' Bulldogs knocked down 21-of-25 from the charity stripe while Winthrop shot 55% after connecting on 21-of-38 freebies.
 
Gardner-Webb lived up to its name early on, running on the offensive end of the court after scoring the game's initial 12 points, capped by a corner three out of the hands of Simmons. Winthrop finally got on the board with a free throw, but layups from redshirt-sophomore guard Shahar Lazar and senior forward Ademide Badmus ballooned the advantage to 16-1 with 14:37 on the clock.
 
However, the Eagles started to gain rhythm offensively over the next three-plus minutes of game action, outscoring GWU 9-3 while trimming the deficit to 19-10 before Boyogueno connected on a dial from distance for the 'Dawgs.
 
Gardner-Webb maintained the comfortable lead throughout the remainder of the first half, taking a 37-28 advantage into the locker room following a putback by Lazar.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs opened the second half with a 12-5 run while building their biggest lead of the game, 49-33, after a pair of free throws out of the hands of senior guard Brendan Mykalcio.
 
Winthrop picked up the pace midway through the period, eventually battling all the way back to knot the score at 60-all following an offensive burst of 27-11. A fastbreak layup by Mykalcio followed by a three by Boyogueno allowed GWU to push back ahead 69-63, but seven in a row by the visitors gave Winthrop its first lead of the game, 70-69, with 5:30 remaining in regulation.
 
That lead did not last long as Boyogueno drilled another triple while catapulting Gardner-Webb back in front just nine seconds later. Kelton Talford leveled the score at 72-all before eight in a row by the home team gave Gardner-Webb an 80-72 lead with less than three to play.
 
Winthrop put together one final push, trimming the deficit to a single point, 80-79, but the 'Dawgs finished the game with a pivotal scoring run of 9-4 while sealing the win.
 
Gardner-Webb will return to the court on Saturday, January 11 as it travels to take on the Panthers of High Point University in a pivotal Big South Conference contest. Game time is set for 7 p.m.