BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Charleston Southern learned just how hard conference road wins are to come by, as they dropped a 64-61 contest vs. the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs, Thursday at Paul Porter Arena. After controlling the majority of the game, the Bucs surrendered a 13 point second half lead, scoring just nine points in the final 11:15. CSU dropped to 7-8 on the year and 2-3 in the Big South, while Gardner-Webb snapped a 10 game losing streak to improve to 4-10 and 1-3 in conference play.

Kelvin Martin led the way for the Bucs, scoring 21 points on 9-13 shooting while collecting seven rebounds. Jeremy Sexton also shot well, tallying 18 points on 6-9 shooting, with a 4-6 clip from behind the arc. Jamarco Warren chipped in with nine points, five rebounds and three assists. The Bulldogs put three in double figures, led by Jonathan Moore's 13 points on 4-6 shooting.

Gardner-Webb used the first two minutes of the game to take a 4-0 advantage, after a pair of CSU turnovers. The Bucs got on the board with a Sexton three shortly after and went on to take their first lead of the game with an 11-10 score, at the 14:53 mark.

After surrendering the lead once more, CSU used an 8-0 run to go up 20-13 with 9:45 on the clock. Martin started the run off with a dunk and three point play, while a Kenny Mitchell put back capped off the burst.

Both teams struggled with turnovers in the first 20 minutes, but the Bucs managed to take their biggest first half lead on another Mitchell finish, that made it 30-19 with 3:33 remaining in the half. Gardner-Webb held CSU scoreless over the final minutes however, narrowing the margin to 30-24 before the intermission.

The Bucs out rebounded the Bulldogs in the first half 23-12, despite turning the ball over nine times. Martin was on fire in the opening frame, scoring 15 points on 6-10 shooting, while pulling down five boards.

Martin started the second half with another basket and Warren scored his first points of the game to help CSU to a 37-30 lead, three minutes into the half. The Bucs continued to tack on to their lead, going up as many as 13, thanks to a Mitchell layup that made the score 52-39 at the 11:17 mark.

Gardner-Webb erased the deficit from there however, outscoring CSU 13-2 over the next seven minutes. The Bucs clung to a slight advantage in the final minutes, still up 58-55 after Jo'el Lamb had an offensive rebound and put back, with 2:36 on the clock.

The Bulldogs continued to surge for the comeback, taking their first second half lead with one minute remaining in the game, when a Thomas Staton layup made it a 60-58 score. Staton went on to put the game out of reach, hitting a pair of free throws with six seconds left in the game, to go up 63-58. A Sexton three at the end of regulation brought the final score to 63-61. CSU was outscored 24-9 in the final 11 minutes.

CSU will stay on the road in North Carolina and try to bounce back when they play the UNC Asheville Bulldogs on Saturday, January 9, at 4:30 p.m.