Conway, SC (Sports Network) - John Caleb Sanders led all scorers with 19 points, and the Liberty Flames defeated the Gardner-Webb Bulldogs, 65-62, in the semifinal round of the Big South Conference Tournament at The HTC Center.

The Flames (14-20), who were coming off an upset win over North Division top seed High Point, will advance to Sunday's championship game to take on the top seed from the South, Charleston Southern. Joel Vander Pol tallied 11 points and seven rebounds in the victory, while Tavares Speaks finished with 10 points.

Tashan Newsome and Max Landis scored 15 apiece for the Bulldogs (21-12). Tyler Strange and Kevin Hartley rounded out the double-figure scorers with 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Liberty held a 26-8 scoring advantage inside the paint and hung on to win despite going the final 5:30 of regulation without a field goal.

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