Winthrop 62, Presbyterian 51

Updated: Jan 16, 2013, 11:48 pm

ROCK HILL, S.C. -- Gideon Gamble scored 12 points off the bench and Winthrop never trailed, beating Presbyterian 62-51 Wednesday night in a Big South Conference game.

Gamble helped the Eagles dominate in bench points 21-4.

Andre Smith scored 11 points and Steve Johnson added eight to help Winthrop (7-9, 1-3) snap a four-game losing streak.

Trailing at halftime 34-26, Presbyterian (3-15, 0-4) got within four points, 42-38, on a pair of Truss Williams free throws, but the Eagles answered with a 15-5 run to make it 57-43 with 3:10 left to play. Gamble started the run with a jumper, and Larry Brown capped it with a dunk.

Winthrop closed out the game converting 5 of 6 free throws down the stretch.

The Eagles made 17 free throws compared to Presbyterian's eight.

Jordan Downing scored a career-high 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Blue Hose, who have now lost four straight.