SAVANNAH, Ga.- Gardner-Webb shot 54.5 percent from the field and went on to defeat Savannah State 97-77 in a game played at Tiger Arena.

Jose Perez led five Bulldogs in double figures with 23 points.

Perez opened the game with a layup but Savannah State answered with a 3-pointer by Zaquavian Smith. A layup by Eric Jamison gave GWU a 4-3 lead and the visitors from Boiling Springs, North Carolina never trailed again.

A 3-pointer by Zach Sellers cut SSU's deficit to 34-25 with 8:15 left but seven unanswered points by the Bulldogs extended their advantage to 41-25.

GWU, who out-scored the Tigers 26-10 in the paint in the first period, led 51-37 at the half.

The Bulldogs (1-3) started the second half with a 11-2 run to go ahead 62-39 with 15:38 remaining.

Down by 19, Savannah State put together 9-2 a mini-run to get within 81-69 with 4:58 left.

The Tigers trailed 89-77 with 2:11 remaining but Gardner-Webb finished the contest by scoring the final eight points.

Sellers and Jaquan Dotson each scored 19 points for Savannah State. Sellers added six rebounds and four assists while Dotson had a team-high eight rebounds. Smith chipped in 11 points for the Tigers (2.3).

The Tigers shot 37.1 percent from the field while Gardner-Webb won the rebounding battle 47 to 34.

TIP INS:

*Zach Sellers has scored at least two points in 36 consecutive games

*SSU saw their three game home stand come to an end. The Tigers won't play at home again until January 19, 2019

*SSU scored 22 points off of 13 Gardner-Webb turnovers

*Zaquavian Smith is the only SSU player to score in double figures in all five games