WILMINGTON, N.C. (Interstat) — A dominant second-half performance propelled the Southeastern Louisiana Lions to a 76-68 victory over the winless Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs in a non-conference men’s basketball game Friday at Brooks Field.

The Lions, who entered the break trailing by 10 points, outscored the Runnin’ Bulldogs 51-33 after halftime to secure their second win of the season against five losses. Gardner-Webb’s frustrating start to the campaign continues, as the team fell to 0-8.

The first half belonged to the Runnin’ Bulldogs, who built a 35-25 lead behind efficient three-point shooting and capitalizing on Southeastern Louisiana’s early struggles. Gardner-Webb connected on 8 of 19 attempts from beyond the arc for the game, with Ace Talbert and Curtis Williams providing key early scoring.

However, the game turned decisively in the second half as the Lions intensified their defensive pressure. Southeastern Louisiana forced 20 Gardner-Webb turnovers, converting them into 13 points, while committing only 11 of their own. The Lions also amassed 14 steals, repeatedly disrupting the Runnin’ Bulldogs’ offensive flow.

A key factor was Southeastern Louisiana’s ability to get to the free-throw line and convert. The Lions attempted 32 free throws, making 25, while Gardner-Webb went 18 for 25 from the stripe. This disparity proved crucial in a game where both teams had an identical number of possessions, 71.

Despite shooting just 23 for 56 from the floor and a frigid 5 for 28 from three-point range, the Lions’ offensive efficiency, measured by an offensive rating of 106.7, outstripped Gardner-Webb’s 95.9. Southeastern Louisiana compensated for its poor outside shooting with a 32-22 advantage in points in the paint and a 15-7 edge in points off turnovers.

Seth Jones came off the bench to lead all scorers with 18 points for the Lions, providing a critical offensive spark. Isaiah Gaines was a force all over the court, falling just shy of a double-double with 9 points and 9 rebounds while adding 4 assists, a block, and a steal in 32 minutes. Ethan Pickett contributed 10 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds, and Makhi Myles added 13 points.

For Gardner-Webb, Ace Talbert led the way with 15 points. Jacob Hudson scored 13, and Curtis Williams added 10 points. The Runnin’ Bulldogs shot a respectable 21 for 45 from the field but were undone by their ball-handling issues and a significant deficit in assists, with Southeastern Louisiana tallying 14 to their 4.

The Lions’ comeback began in earnest early in the second half, with a 12-2 run erasing the deficit and setting the stage for a back-and-forth battle that Southeastern Louisiana ultimately controlled in the final minutes with timely scoring and defensive stops.

Both teams return to action at Brooks Field on Saturday, with Southeastern Louisiana facing Navy and Gardner-Webb taking on host UNC Wilmington.