NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (Interstat) — A’lahn Sumler scored 27 points and Charleston Southern used a dominant first-half performance to build a cushion it would never relinquish, defeating Gardner-Webb 75-66 in a Big South Conference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at CSU Field House.

The Buccaneers, who led by as many as 16 in the opening period, improved to 13-15 overall. The Runnin’ Bulldogs, who have lost five straight and 16 of their last 17, fell to 3-25.

Charleston Southern established control early and never truly let Gardner-Webb into the game. The Buccaneers opened with a 7-0 run, punctuated by an early Lase Olalere tip-in dunk and a Sumler 3-pointer. Gardner-Webb struggled with turnovers and shot creation against an active Charleston Southern defense, managing just 10 points through the first 10 minutes.

The Buccaneers’ lead ballooned to 26-10 following an 8-0 burst midway through the half, fueled by Sumler’s driving layup and defensive pressure. While Gardner-Webb found some rhythm late in the period behind Jacob Hudson and Jamias Ferere, who combined for 20 first-half points, Charleston Southern answered every push. Trent Coleman sank three 3-pointers in the final three and a half minutes, including one in the closing seconds off a Jacob Taylor assist, to send the Buccaneers into halftime with a commanding 40-28 advantage.

The second half saw Gardner-Webb mount a more consistent challenge, outscoring Charleston Southern 38-35 after the break, but the deficit proved too large to overcome. The Runnin’ Bulldogs cut the lead to single digits on several occasions, closing to within 64-58 on a NaVuan Peterson 3-pointer with just over five minutes remaining.

Each time, however, Sumler and the Buccaneers had a response. The sophomore guard from Waterbury, Connecticut, was relentless attacking the basket, scoring 15 of his game-high total in the second half. When Gardner-Webb pulled within six, Sumler converted a three-point play and, after a Gardner-Webb miss, hit two free throws to push the lead back to 11 with under two minutes to play, effectively sealing the outcome.

Hudson led Gardner-Webb with 15 points, three assists and a block. Ferere added 15 points and two blocks off the bench. For Charleston Southern, Coleman provided a crucial spark with 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting, all from beyond the arc. Olalere anchored the interior with eight points, three blocks and several key rebounds, while Taylor contributed nine points, three assists and steady guard play over 35 minutes.

The game was a contrast in efficiency. Charleston Southern’s early defensive intensity forced Gardner-Webb into a disjointed offensive start from which it never fully recovered. The Buccaneers also capitalized on their size advantage, outscoring Gardner-Webb in the paint and protecting the rim with six blocks.

The announced attendance was 602.

Gardner-Webb travels to face Radford on Thursday. Charleston Southern hosts Longwood on Saturday.