CHARLESTON, S.C. – Gardner-Webb shot a sizzling 65.0 percent from the floor Saturday night, and C.J. Hailey scored a career-high 30 points to lift the Runnin’ Bulldogs to an 82-73 win over Charleston Southern.

The win for Gardner-Webb (7-16, 4-9 Big South) snapped a four-game losing streak and put the ‘Dogs one game ahead of VMI for the Big South’s final tournament spot. GWU and VMI play next Thursday in Boiling Springs (7:00 pm tip) in a key matchup.

Hailey made his first nine shots and finished 9-of-10 from the floor and 9-of-10 from the free throw line for his 30 markers. The Charlotte, N.C., native (Harding HS) has scored 47 points in his last three halves of play, and topped his previous career-high by four points.

Gardner-Webb closed the first half on a 10-0 run to take a 36-32 lead into the locker room, overcoming 14 turnovers with dead-eye shooting (65.0 percent, 13-of-20) from the floor. The ‘Dogs kept that shooting pace for the rest of the game, and kept Charleston Southern (11-12, 6-7 Big South) at arm’s length for much of the second half by making shots.

When the final buzzer sounded, GWU had gone 26-of-40 from the floor (65.0 percent), made 7-of-14 from long distance (50.0 percent) and finished 23-of-29 from the free throw line (79.3 percent).

In addition to Hailey’s career night, Anton Silver added 15 points and GWU got career scoring highs from seniors Brandon Jackson (eight points, five rebounds, five assists) and Matt Maden (six points, 3-of-4 field goals). Maden, a 6-foot-11 center from Roth Well, Australia, made his first career start for the Runnin’ Bulldogs.

Charleston Southern went ice cold after leading by as many as seven in the first half, and Gardner-Webb took control of the game. The Bucs shot 45.5 percent from the floor (25-of-55) and 38.5 percent from three-point range (10-of-26), but could not put the brakes on Gardner-Webb.

Freshman Jeremy Sexton had 23 points and Jemarco Warren added 21 for Charleston Southern – which lost to Gardner-Webb for the fifth time in a row.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs return home for a two-game set by hosting VMI on Thursday (Feb. 11) at 7:00 and Liberty on Saturday (Feb. 13) at 7:00.