Box Score
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BOILING SPRINGS, NC— Winthrop overcame a 13-point deficit to force overtime, but fell to Gardner-Webb 85-79 Saturday night at Paul Porter Arena in Big South Conference action.

Winthrop falls to 15-12 on the year and 8-6 in the Big South and is second place of the South Division, now trailing Coastal Carolina, UNC Asheville and Gardner-Webb. The victory pushed the Runnin' Bulldogs into a first place tie as they are now 16-13 overall and 9-5 in the league.

The Eagles have two games remaining beginning with UNC Asheville at home on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. as they are still alive for the South Division title and one of the top two seeds to earn a bye in the opening round of the 2014 VisitMyrtleBeach.com Big South Conference Championship.

Keon Moore led all scorers with a career-high 27 points but it was not enough as the Runnin' Bulldogs outscored the Eagles 19-13 in overtime.

After trailing by as much as 13 in the second half, Winthrop fought its way back to tie the game at 47-47 after Moore made three free throws with 10:41 to play. The teams traded baskets as the Eagles couldn't take the lead until Joab Jerome converted two free throws to put them in front 64-62 with 2:43 left.

The game was tied at 66-66 with 52 seconds to play in regulation as each team had looks for game-winning shots in the final minute. Moore dribbled just inside the three-point line and put up a jumper at the elbow that hit off the back iron, setting up Gardner-Webb to hold for the final shot of the game. Naji Hibbert got the ball around midcourt with 11 seconds to play and slowly worked his way up to the three-point line where he pulled up straight away and the shot hit off the side iron of the rim and bounced out.

The first two baskets of overtime by Gardner-Webb came off second chance opportunities. Winthrop won the tip to start the extra period but Andre Smith couldn't get a three to fall. Onzie Branch boarded a miss in between two Eagle players and was fouled going back up. He made both of his free throws and then on Gardner-Webb's next possession it took a 70-66 lead after two offensive rebounds led to a Branch bucket inside. After Jerome Hill scored on a drive to the basket for a four-point advantage at 72-68, Moore drained a three to make it 72-71.

Hibbert came up big on the other end of the court as he buried a contested three in front of his bench for a 75-71 lead. Winthrop trailed 79-74 after Josh Castellanos made two free throws and the Runnin' Bulldogs finished the overtime by making 6-of-8 free throws to hold off the Eagles.

Larry Brown and Smith added 12 points each as Keon Johnson finished with nine. Winthrop shot 45 percent from the floor, was 7-for-20 from three and shot 76 percent at the foul line. Gardner-Webb shot 54 percent from the floor and 60 percent not counting three-pointers.

Hill led Gardner-Webb with 20 points and 11 rebounds while Hibbert added 16 points and Branch chipped in with 10.

Winthrop fell behind 11-2 to start the game as Hibbert provided two threes during the quick spurt. A Larry Brown lay-up followed by a Moore three-pointer cut the deficit to four points at the 14:40 mark of the first half. The Runnin' Bulldogs responded with seven straight points as the Eagles trailed 18-7 with 10:50 to play in the opening period.

The Eagles trailed by as much as 13 in the first half after a Hibbert jumper made it 24-11 with just over seven and a half minutes left. A Smith three started a mini run by the Eagles as they cut the deficit to six points at 26-20 with a little more than four minutes remaining in the half and then pulled within three points on a Jarad Scott lay-up with 2:40 on the clock. However, Gardner-Webb scored the final five points of the half including a Tyler Strange three to lead 32-24 at the break.