ROCK HILL, S.C. (Interstat) — A stunning first-half offensive explosion by Gardner-Webb guard Spence Sims was not enough to overcome a dominant second-half performance by Winthrop’s Logan Duncomb and a decisive advantage at the free-throw line, as the Eagles rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit to defeat the Runnin’ Bulldogs 88-77 in a Big South Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Winthrop Coliseum.

The most important part of the game was Winthrop’s complete reversal of fortune after halftime, transforming a 50-37 deficit into a comfortable victory by imposing its will in the paint and capitalizing relentlessly on free-throw opportunities. The Eagles, who shot just 37.5% from the floor in the first half, exploded for 51 points in the second period, attacking the basket to draw fouls and convert 26 of 32 free throws for the game. Gardner-Webb, by contrast, managed only 11 of 19 from the line.

Sims, a 6-foot-1 guard from Fairhope, Alabama, was virtually unstoppable in the opening period, scoring 22 of his game-high 29 points to propel the Runnin’ Bulldogs to their large lead. He finished the game hitting 10 field goals, including five from beyond the arc, in 37 minutes of action. His backcourt mate, Colin Hawkins of Colorado Springs, Colorado, added 13 points and three assists.

But the Eagles’ size and persistence inside, led by Duncomb, turned the tide. The 6-foot-10, 230-pound center from Cincinnati, Ohio, scored 19 of his 21 points after intermission, relentlessly attacking the offensive glass. Winthrop finished with a staggering 16 offensive rebounds, leading to a 44-26 advantage in points in the paint. Duncomb also contributed a block and was a central figure in Winthrop’s defensive effort that held Gardner-Webb to just 27 second-half points on 32% shooting.

Winthrop’s backcourt provided crucial support. Kody Clouet, a 6-foot-5 guard from San Marcos, California, scored 19 points, while Isaiah Wilson of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, orchestrated the offense with 12 points and five assists. Kareem Rozier, a 5-foot-9 guard from Detroit, Michigan, chipped in 11 points.

Gardner-Webb’s offense, which hummed at a 110.0 rating on 50% shooting in the first half, went cold after the break. The Runnin’ Bulldogs’ 12 made three-pointers kept them in the game, but they were outrebounded 42-30 overall and could not generate consistent offense outside of Sims’ creation. Curtis Williams of Rancho Cucamonga, California, was the only other Gardner-Webb player in double figures with 12 points.

The victory improved Winthrop to 9-8 overall and evened its conference record, while Gardner-Webb fell to 2-15. The announced attendance was 1,234.

The game’s momentum swung decisively during a critical stretch early in the second half. After a Sims three-pointer gave Gardner-Webb a 53-45 lead with 14:06 remaining, Winthrop embarked on a 22-4 run over the next six and a half minutes. The surge was fueled by Duncomb’s interior scoring, a three-pointer from Clouet, and a steady parade to the free-throw line. When Logan Duncomb converted a pair of free throws with 7:26 left, the Eagles led 67-57, a 20-point swing from their halftime hole.

Gardner-Webb could never recover. The Runnin’ Bulldogs pulled within eight points on a Colin Hawkins three-pointer with 5:54 to play, but Winthrop answered immediately with a Duncomb layup and continued to execute offensively down the stretch, sealing the game at the foul line.

Statistically, the game was a tale of efficiency and second chances. Despite shooting a lower percentage from the field (45.2% to 47.4%) and making only six three-pointers to Gardner-Webb’s 12, Winthrop’s superior offensive rating of 127.2, fueled by 20 more free-throw attempts and 13 more offensive rebounds, proved insurmountable. Both teams took care of the ball, with Winthrop committing eight turnovers and Gardner-Webb seven.

Gardner-Webb next travels to face High Point on Wednesday. Winthrop continues its homestand, hosting Charleston Southern on the same night. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, on Feb. 12.