BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. (AP) — Jesse Sanders made big shots at the end of regulation and at the end of overtime Friday night, helping Liberty defeat Gardner-Webb 64-62.
Sanders’ two free throws with 1.2 seconds left in regulation sent the game to overtime, tied 57-57. His jumper with 4 seconds left in the extra period won it for the Flames (9-6, 3-0 Big South Conference).
Sanders and Evan Gordon led Liberty with 19 points each.
The Flames survived a first half in which they made only 6 of 22 shots (27.3 percent) and trailed only 24-18 at halftime. The Runnin’ Bulldogs (6-9, 1-2), bolstered by 25 Liberty turnovers, extended the lead to 11 points early in the second half before the Flames rallied.
Luke Davis led Gardner-Webb with a career-high 17 points and Laron Buggs added 15. But Buggs and the Runnin’ Bulldogs’ top rebounders (Mike Byron with 11 and Stefon Johnson with six) all fouled out.
