Box Score

Wingate, N.C.----Four different players scored in double figures as the Wingate University Bulldogs topped Newberry College 66-59 in South Atlantic Conference men’s basketball action Friday night in Cuddy Arena. The Bulldogs improve to 5-2 overall on the year and 1-0 in the SAC. Newberry falls to 3-4 overall and 0-1 in the conference.

Freshman forward Odell Turner (Charlotte, N.C.) led the Bulldogs with 15 points to go along with six rebounds, three blocks and three steals. Sophomore guard Jaime Vaughn (McDonough, Ga.) added 13 points for the Bulldogs, while senior guard Larry Staley (Charlotte, N.C.) contributed 12 points and five rebounds off the bench. Freshman forward Quan Alexander (Charlotte, N.C.) led the Bulldogs with nine rebounds.

Senior forward Rodney Lee (Sarasota, Fla.) led Newberry with 16 points, while junior forward Ray Robinson (Jacksonville, Fla.) added 10 points. Senior forward Stephane Bakinde (Yaounde, Cameroon) pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds to go with four assists and three blocks.

A jumper from Robinson gave Newberry a 13-7 lead seven minutes into the game. Three-pointers from Vaughn and sophomore guard Tracy Parks (St. Petersburg, Fla.) cut the lead to one. The Bulldogs took their first lead of the game on a jumper from Alexander at the 7:45 mark. Vaughn followed with a jumper to make it 26-23.

A layup from senior guard David Brown (Goose Creek, S.C.) tied the game at 31. Wingate responded with a three-point play from Turner to make it 34-31 with 3:20 remaining in the half. A layup and dunk from Brown gave Newberry a 38-34 lead with just under two minutes remaining. Vaughn came right back down and drained a three, while Parks added a free throw to tie the game at halftime.

The Bulldogs used a 6-0 run to take a 48-41 lead with 11 minutes remaining in the game. The scarlet-and-gray trimmed the lead to three at 52-49 on a pair Robinson free throws with 6:50 remaining. A Robinson layup made it a one point game at the 4:12 mark. A jumper from Alexander and a tip-in from Turner helped Wingate push the lead back to three with under three minutes remaining.

Newberry again got within two on a dunk from Lee with 2:42 to go. Wingate would hit seven-of-nine free throws down the stretch to ice the lead and notch the victory to open conference play.

The Bulldogs shot 35.9 percent from the field, while hitting four-of-17 shots from beyond the arc. Wingate made 16-of-24 free throws, compared to five-of-12 shooting from Newberry. The visitors shot 48.1 percent from the field, but connected on only two-of-16 from three point range. Wingate converted 21 Newberry turnovers into 20 points, while also holding a 19-9 edge in second chance points. The scarlet-and-gray dominated the inside, holding a 44-26 advantage in points in the paint. The Bulldogs out-rebounded Newberry 39-36.

The Bulldogs are back in action December 12, hosting USC Aiken at 4 p.m. Newberry returns to action December 12 as well, traveling to Lander for a 3:30 p.m. start.