CLINTON, S.C. -- Tyrell Nelson scored 21 points with 11 rebounds and Jerome Hill added 19 points with 12 boards as Gardner-Webb raced away from Presbyterian 81-64 in the Big South opener for both teams on Wednesday night.

Hill scored seven of his points in an early flurry as he made a layup to give the Runnin' Bulldogs (9-5, 1-0) the lead for keeps at 7-6, then made a 3-pointer and a dunk in a 10-2 run and a 15-8 lead by the first official timeout.

Jordan Downing scored 28 for Presbyterian (4-10, 0-1) and William Truss added 14. The Blue Hose shot 52 percent from the floor but made just 4 of 12 3-pointers while the Bulldogs were 12 of 29 from beyond the arc.

Harold McBride and Jarvis Davis each sank three treys for Gardner-Webb, which also outrebounded the Blue Hose 34-22 and outscored them 11-2 on second-chance points.