Gardner-Webb tops Presbyterian 87-76 in Big South opener

CLINTON, S.C. (AP) Tyrell Nelson scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds as Gardner Webb used a 13-point first half to hold off Presbyterian Wednesday, 87-76 in the Big South Conference opener for both schools.

The Runnin' Bulldogs now have beaten Presbyterian five straight times and have won eight of the last 11 meetings.

Harold McBride contributed 15 points, Dylan Poston 14 and Adonis Burbage 13 for Gardner-Webb, which shot a brisk 57.4 percent from the field (31 of 54) and were 12 of 22 from beyond the arc (54.5 percent).

DeSean Murray scored 28 points and Markus Terry added 13 to lead the Blue Hose (3-4, 0-1), who were 24 of 52 from the field (46.2 percent) and were 4 of 15 (26.7 percent) from distance.

Gardner-Webb (3-5, 1-0) played just three home games in November and suffered losses at Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Iowa.