BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. (AP) -- Tashan Newsome scored 26 points, including 17 in the second half, to lead Gardner-Webb to a 71-68 victory over Liberty in a Big South Conference game Saturday night.

The senior guard's layup with 3:37 remaining put the Runnin' Bulldogs ahead to stay, 57-55, as they broke a streak of six consecutive losses against the Flames (8-17, 4-7).

Newsome made 8 of 14 shots and 10 of 13 free throws for Gardner-Webb, which also got 16 points from Donta Harper.

John Caleb Sanders scored 25 of his 27 points for Liberty in the second half, when the Flames rallied from a 30-24 halftime deficit to take a 47-45 lead with 9:17 left. He had made four consecutive free throws to tie the game at 55 before Newsome's go-ahead bucket.

Sanders made 8 of 16 shots and 10 of 10 free throws.