CHARLESTON, S.C. – Charleston Southern whittled a 16-point second half deficit down to four on two occasions before falling to Gardner-Webb, 68-59, at the Buc Dome on Saturday.

PDF Box Score - Gardner-Webb 68, CSU 59

Gardner-Webb (11-12, 6-5 Big South) took control with a 19-0 first half run, and overcame a cold shooting second half by sinking 20 free throws. Dylan Poston paced four Runnin' Bulldogs in double figures with 13 points. Adonis Burbage sparked GWU with three first half three-pointers, and tallied 11 points and nine rebounds.

Armel Potter and Javis Howard combined for 25 of their 30 points in the second half to spearhead CSU's (8-14, 4-7 Big South) comeback bid. Potter posted 17 points, six rebounds and three assists in a career-high 36 minutes. Howard finished a rebound shy of a double-double, collecting 13 points and nine rebounds.

"Credit to Gardner-Webb because they made free throws and enough plays late to get the win in a hard-fought game," CSU head coach Barclay Radebaugh said afterward. "I thought we competed really hard in the second half after a bit of a sluggish first half where it seemed like we got a little discouraged. Armel and Javis gave us some really good play, and I thought Rae (Robinson) played well too but just didn't make shots."

CSU shot just 35 percent overall, and was held to 29 percent shooting in the opening stanza as Gardner-Webb built a 35-22 halftime lead. The Bucs struggled from three-point range for the third consecutive game, connecting on just 6-of-26 tries from downtown.

GWU maintained its double-digit lead through much of the second half, and led 54-40 with 7:27 remaining following two Brandon Miller free throws. CSU went on a 10-0 run to claw back into the game, though, as Potter and Robinson drained threes to snap the Bucs out of their shooting funk. Potter tacked on two free throws and a pretty driving basket to narrow the deficit to four. The Bucs would cut the Running Bulldogs lead to four again with 4:51 left, before GWU made six straight free throws en route to the victory.

"We just didn't make enough shots to win," Radebaugh said. "It's back to the drawing board, and we've got to keep working hard to stay positive and get better."

Demetrius Pollard and Patrick Wallace each buried treys to help CSU to an early 14-6 lead. Gardner-Webb held CSU scoreless for the ensuing 7:24, however, ripping off a 19-0 run. Burbage started the surge with a three, and made two more during the spurt as the Runnin' Bulldogs moved their lead to 25-14 by the 4:47 mark.

CSU held Gardner-Webb to 24 percent shooting, including a 1-of-14 clip from beyond the arc, in the second half to give itself a chance. The 24 percent is the lowest mark by a CSU Division I opponent in a half this season.

CSU begins its February slate at UNC Asheville on Wednesday. Asheville beat CSU at the Buc Dome on Jan. 2, and beat Longwood on Saturday to hold onto a share of first place in the Big South standings. Tipoff at Kimmel Arena is set for 7 p.m.