ROCK HILL, S.C. – Freshman guard Spence Sims went off for a career-high 29 points, but it was not enough as Gardner-Webb (2-15, 0-2) let a double-digit halftime lead slip away in a 88-77 loss to Winthrop (9-8, 1-1) on Saturday afternoon.

The Runnin' Bulldogs finished the game with a 47% (27-57) clip from the floor, including 12-of-31 from distance. Sims knocked down a career-high seven shots from behind the arc for Gardner-Webb.

Guards Colin Hawkins and Curtis Williams III chipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively, while Ace Talbert poured in 10 on the night. Navuan Peterson led the Dawgs in rebounds with seven.

Looking for its first conference win of the season, Gardner-Webb came out firing on all cylinders in the opening half as Sims led the way with precise shooting from behind the arc. After a Winthrop three-pointer trimmed the Dawgs lead to 4-3 early, Sims came back with a personal 8-2 run, staking the visitors to a 14-5 advantage with 13:26 on the clock.

A pair of makes at the charity stripe by guard Jamias Ferere pushed the Gardner-Webb lead to double-digits, 26-16, before a crucial run of 15-5 ballooned the lead to 20 with just over five minutes to play before the halftime break.

Winthrop tallied the next five points, but a deep three from the top of the key by guard Ace Talbert stopped the mini run while helping GWU maintain the comfortable 50-37 advantage heading to intermission.

The Eagles ripped off 13 of the first 18 points in the second half while trimming the deficit to 55-50 before Sims stayed hot with his seventh made three of the game. However, Winthrop continued its offensive outburst with an 11-3 run, taking its first lead of the game, 61-60, midway through the second half.

 From that point, the lead extended to as many as X points as Winthrop pulled away late in the 88-77 conference win.

Gardner-Webb will return to action on Wednesday, January 7 after hitting the road to face the Panthers of High Point. Tip for that contest is slated for 7 p.m.