LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) Ryan Kemrite and John Dawson scored 20 points each and combined to make five straight free throws in the final 36 seconds to give Liberty a 65-62 win over Gardner-Webb on Thursday night.

Dawson gave the Flames (11-9, 6-1 Big South Conference) the lead for good with a pair of free throws at 62-60. Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz stole it from Gardner-Webb's DJ Laster with 22 seconds and Kemrite made two more free throws to make it a four-point lead.

The Bulldogs (10-10, 3-4) closed it to two on Laquincy Rideau's free throws with 12 seconds left and Dawson made the first of two to cap the scoring a second later.

Liberty remained tied in first place with Winthrop and will host the Eagles in a Big South showdown on Saturday.

Tyrell Nelson had 22 points to lead Gardner-Webb. Rideau added 12 and David Efianayi scored 11.

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