Gardner-Webb 84, Mercer 71

2/7/2008 8:31 PM

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. (AP) -Thomas Sanders had 19 points and a career-high 15 rebounds to lead Gardner-Webb to an 84-71 victory against Mercer on Thursday night.

Grayson Flittner also scored 19 points for Runnin' Bulldogs (11-13, 5-5 Atlantic Sun), who used a 24-6 run early in the second half to win for the second time in three games.

Mercer led 38-32 at halftime before Gardner-Webb caught fire, with Flittner hitting all four of his 3-pointers in the second half and the Runnin' Bulldogs knocking down 54.8 percent of their shots after the break.

James Florence had 19 points to lead Mercer (9-14, 4-6), which lost its fourth straight. The Bears missed 16 of their first 20 shots of the half and shot just 25 percent in the final 20 minutes. Florence missing eight of his first 11 attempts.

Sanders had his league-best 14th double-double of the season for Gardner-Webb.