BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Sophomore guard Colin Hawkins connected on a driving layup with three seconds left on the clock, lifting Gardner-Webb (3-19, 1-6) men's basketball to a 67-65 win over visiting USC Upstate on Friday evening inside a raucous Paul Porter Arena.
Hawkins finished with 11 points and three assists while Jacob Hogarth earned his fifth double-double of the season after finishing with team-highs in points (17) and rebounds (11). Jamias Ferere was the only other Runnin' Bulldog in double figures, cashing in 10 points, including a clutch three down the stretch.
Gardner-Webb ended the night shooting 43.3% from the field after knocking down 26-of-60 shots, including five three-pointers. The Dawgs also added a 10-for-13 mark from the charity stripe while beating Upstate on the boards, 40-34.
After GWU raced out to a quick 5-0 lead following a three and layup by Hawkins, the Spartans used a 23-5 run to push ahead by double-digits, 23-10, midway through the opening half.
However, the Runnin' Bulldogs shot their way back into the game, collecting four points from Ferere during a 9-0 spurt while trimming the deficit to 23-19 just over three minutes later.
USC Upstate looked to have taken the momentum back after building its lead back to 32-23, but the Dawgs finished the half strong, tallying the final six points, capped by a tough layup from Hogarth.
The second half started as a back-and-forth affair as Gardner- Webb was able to pull to within a single point on several occasions over the first four minutes of game action. However, it seemed the Spartans would have an answer for every GWU basket until Hogarth bullied his way to the basket for a layup, giving the Runnin' Bulldogs its first lead since early in the opening period, 44-43.
From that point, the lead would change hands six different times, including at 55-54 following a corner three from Riek Riek. A pair of free throws by Carmelo Adkins gave Upstate a 60-58 lead, but it would be the last one of the game for the visitors.
Hogarth answered on the other end with two makes from the charity stripe of his own before Jacob Hudson nailed a layup followed by a massive corner three from Ferere that gave Gardner-Webb its largest lead of the second half at 65-60.
However, USC Upstate battled back with five in a row, including a Breylin Garcia two-pointer with 20 ticks remaining in regulation. Playing for one shot, Hawkins called his own number with a driving layup that kissed off the glass for the 67-65 lead.
The Spartans had one last chance at the tie or win, but Karmani Gregory was stripped by Ace Talbert, sealing the win for Gardner-Webb.
Gardner-Webb returns to action on Thursday, January 29, traveling to Asheville, N.C. to take on the Bulldogs of UNC Asheville. Tip for that contest is slated for 6:30 p.m.
