BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Presbyterian Blue Hose (8-9, Big South: 1-1) battled until the end in a hard-fought 63-61 road defeat at the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs (6-9, Big South: 1-1), on Saturday afternoon.
 
Kobe Stewart led the Blue Hose with 16 points while grabbing seven rebounds with a season-high four steals. Kory Mincy tallied 11 points and five assists. Iverson King came off the bench to score 10 points. Quadir Pettaway scored eight points off the bench,
 
Presbyterian finished the game with a 20-4 advantage in points off turnovers and a 22-10 advantage in bench points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF – Gardner-Webb scored the game's first three points. Kaleb Scott got the Blue Hose on the board with a layup a couple of minutes into the contest.  Gardner-Webb pushed their lead to six points, 12-6, with 13:38 on the clock. The Blue Hose went on an 11-1 run taking a 17-13 after King knocked down a three from the wing with 10 minutes on the clock. King scored six points during the run. Scott and Stewart also scored for the Blue Hose. With 6:14 on the clock, the Blue Hose led 25-21, after a few steals and some fast break baskets capped off by a Pettaway layup, the Blue Hose led 33-23, with 4:25 on the clock. Then, Gardner-Webb went on a 10-0 scoring run tying the score at 33 with 50 seconds left in the half. Scott scored inside pushing the Blue Hose back in front. Gardner-Webb answered with a basket with five seconds on the clock, sending the teams to the locker room tied at 35.  
 
SECOND HALF – After each team scored to start the half, Gardner-Webb scored four straight points taking a 41-37 lead with 15:35 on the clock. Gardner-Webb would eventually push their lead to eight points, 47-39, with 12:34 left in the game. Presbyterian scored five straight points behind three points from Mincy and a dunk from Stewart. Gardner-Webb scored ending the PC run. Then, the Blue Hose scored seven straight points taking a 51-49 lead after a King layup with 6:46 on the clock. Triston Wilson made two free throws and Stewart knocked down a three for Presbyterian's other points during the run. Then, Gardner-Webb scored five straight points retaking the lead. Presbyterian tied the score at 58 after Mincy's jumper in the lane with 2:42 on the clock. The Runnin' Bulldogs made four straight free throws retaking the lead for good. Jamahri Harvey knocked a long three with four ticks on the clock getting the Blue Hose within one. Gardner-Webb made one free throw. Stewart's halfcourt shot at the buzzer was online but it hit the front of the rim.
 

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• Stewart recorded his 13^th double-figure scoring game of the season and the 34^th of his career with his team-high 16 points.
• Mincy's 11 points marked his 16^th double-figure scoring game of the season and the 22^nd of his career.
• King collected his fifth double-digit scoring game of the season with his 10 points.

 
NEXT GAME
Presbyterian concludes its two-game road swing in Spartanburg, S.C., against USC Upstate this Wednesday, January 8, at 7 p.m.