Box Score

Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University freshman guard Paidrick Matilus (Boynton Beach, Fla.) poured in a career-high 27 points, including the game-winning three pointer with 8.4 seconds left as the Bulldogs edged the Crusaders of Belmont Abbey College 73-71 in NCAA Division II men’s basketball action Saturday afternoon in Cuddy Arena. Wingate improves to 3-2 overall on the year, while Belmont Abbey falls to 2-2 overall.

Matilus hit eight-of-14 shots from the field, including five-of-nine from beyond the arc. He was also six-for-seven from the free throw line and notched a game-high four steals. Freshman forward Odell Turner (Charlotte, N.C.) scored 13 of his 16 points in the second half, while going seven-of-eight from the field for the game. Senior guard Larry Staley (Charlotte, N.C.) contributed 13 points off the bench, hitting six-of-eight shots from the field.

Junior guard Richard Barbee (Virginia Beach, Va.) led the Crusaders with 18 points and nine rebounds to go along with four assists and two steals. Sophomore forward Kyle Phillips (Lexington, S.C.) added 16 points and seven rebounds, while senior forward Chad Patus (Welland, Ontario) chipped in with 11 points and eight rebounds.

Wingate came out hot, taking an11-3 lead thanks to seven quick points from Matilus. The eight-point lead would be the largest for either team throughout the contest. The Crusaders answered with an 8-0 run to tie the game at 11 with 13:13 remaining in the first half. A three-point play from Staley at the 2:31 mark pushed the Wingate lead back to five at 26-21.

Belmont Abbey responded by closing the half on 12-2 run to take a 33-28 lead into halftime. Freshman guard Tyshawn Good (Jamaica, N.Y.) hit a pair of threes in the spurt, while senior guard Patrick Kuhlman (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) added a trifecta that gave Belmont Abbey its largest lead of the game at 33-26. A Staley jumper trimmed the lead back to five 16 seconds before intermission.

The Bulldogs tied the game for the seventh time on a layup from Turner seven minutes into the second half, knotting the score at 45-45. No team would lead by more than three the rest of the way. The game would feature a total of 12 ties and 16 lead changes.

A three pointer from freshman guard Tracy Parks (St. Petersburg, Fla.) put Wingate on top 50-47 with 11 minutes to go. The Crusaders answered with a 6-0 run to take a three-point lead of their own on a jumper and a pair of free throws from Phillips.

A jumper from Staley gave Wingate a 68-67 lead with 1:27 remaining. Belmont Abbey answered with a jumper from Phillips at the one minute mark to go on top by one. The Bulldogs again turned to Staley, who drained another jumper to make it 70-69. Barbee knocked down a pair of free throws to give the Crusaders their final lead at 71-70 with 28 seconds remaining.

The Bulldogs had the answer, as sophomore guard Jaime Vaughn (McDonough, Ga.) drove through the lane and kicked it out to Matilus, who knocked down his fifth three of the night with 8.4 seconds remaining. Belmont Abbey had a shot to tie it, but a jumper from Phillips fell short at the buzzer.

Wingate shot 48.2 percent from the field in the game, hitting 27-of-56 field goals, while knocking down six-of-19 shots from beyond the arc (31.6 percent). The Crusaders hit on 23-of-51 shots from the field (45.1 percent); including four-of-nine from three point range (44.4 percent). Belmont Abbey knocked down 21-of-23 free throws on the afternoon and held a 37-23 advantage on the boards. Wingate forced 20 Belmont Abbey turnovers, converting them into 15 points. The Crusaders converted 15 Wingate turnovers into 15 points.

The Bulldogs are back in action Monday, traveling to UNC Pembroke for a 7:30 p.m. start. Wingate returns home Friday, hosting Newberry College in the South Atlantic Conference opener at 8 p.m. Belmont Abbey hosts Coker College Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m.