BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. (AP) -- Brian Bender scored 27 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lift Gardner-Webb past Belmont 79-72 on Wednesday.
Simon Conn added 20 points and eight rebounds and Tim Jennings scored 11 points for the Bulldogs (7-4, 4-0 Atlantic Sun).
Andrew Preston led the Bruins (3-8, 2-1) with 19 points and five rebounds. Will Peeples scored 13, and Dan Oliver and Nick Otis had 12 points apiece.
Gardner-Webb led 42-33 at the break. The Bulldogs stretched their lead again to double digits on a Josh Chiles 3-pointer with 10:49 to play, making it 60-50.
Brian Collins scored twice to bring the Bruins within 4 points _ 60-56 _ at the 9:10 mark.
Gardner-Webb again stretched its lead to double-digits _ 72-62 _ with 3:07 to play. The Bruins closed the gap to 74-70 with just 1:40 left, but Gardner-Webb held on to win it 79-72.
