Middleton scores 17, Winthrop shuts down Gardner-Webb in final 5 minutes for 65-45 victory

Middleton leads Winthrop past Gardner-Webb 65-45

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. — Reggie Middleton scored 17 points and Robbie Dreher added 15 as Winthrop pulled away from Gardner-Webb 65-45 on Saturday night.

The Eagles (9-10, 5-4 Big South Conference) outscored the Runnin’ Bulldogs 17-4 in the final 5:11 to win for the fourth time in their last five contests.

Middleton scored 12 points in a slow-starting first half that was tied at 16 with 4:29 left. Winthrop led 26-24 at the break, then scored the first eight points of the second half to pull ahead by 10.

Gardner-Webb (6-13, 3-6) cut it to 42-37 on five straight points by Jonathan Moore, but could get no closer, snapping its two-game winning streak.

Moore led the Runnin’ Bulldogs with 11 points. Joshua Henley had eight points and 12 rebounds.

The Eagles were 5-for-16 from long range and 16-for-26 from the free throw line. Gardner-Webb made 1 of 10 3-point attempts and 6 of 12 foul shots.