Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs piled up a South Atlantic Conference record 15 blocked shots, building a 24-point lead en route to an 82-73 victory over visiting Mount Olive College in NCAA Division II men’s basketball action Saturday night in Cuddy Arena. The Bulldogs improve to 4-7 overall, while the Trojans fall to 7-2 on the season.

Sophomore forward Jeff Parker (Madison, N.C.) had 16 points, six blocks and four rebounds to lead the Wingate attack, hitting seven-of-nine shots from the field. Junior guard Paidrick Matilus (Boynton Beach, Fla.) added 16 points for the Bulldogs. Senior guard Jaime Vaughn (Tallahassee, Fla.) had 10 points, while junior forward Odell Turner (Charlotte, N.C.) had 10 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.

Senior guard Derek Staton (Norfolk, Va.) had 15 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals to lead the Mount Olive attack. Senior guard Craig Hayes (Woodbridge, Va.) added 15 points for the Trojans, while sophomore guard Dory Hines (Kinston, N.C.) had 13 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Wingate used an early 8-0 run to turn a two-point lead into an 18-8 advantage nine minutes into the opening half. Junior guard Eddie Lewis (Rocky Point, N.C.) highlighted the flurry with a steal and a dunk, followed by a rebound and outlet pass, leading to a dunk from junior forward Quan Alexander (Charlotte, N.C.) to push the lead to 10.

A three-point play from Staton trimmed the lead to seven at the 5:36 mark, while a Hayes jumper made the score 27-22 a minute later. The Bulldogs closed the half with an emphatic 14-1 run to push the halftime lead to 18. Vaughn started the spurt with a jumper, while a Lewis triple pushed the lead back to double figures. Vaughn facilitated lay-ups for Alexander and freshman guard Ryan Daye (Burlington, N.C.) to extend the flurry, while a jumper from freshman forward Mike Tyson (Kinston, N.C.) made the margin 41-23 heading to halftime.

An emphatic dunk from Parker opened the second half scoring, giving Wingate a 20-point lead. A Parker jumper and Daye triple put the ‘Dogs on top 58-34 seven minutes into the second half. The Trojans would slowly cut into the lead, getting a jumper from Hayes at the 6:23 mark to make the deficit 67-53. A jumper from sophomore guard Ewon Wright (Fayetteville, N.C.), followed by a pair of free throws from Hines, made the contest a nine-point game at the 3:51 mark.

Matilus knocked down a pair of free throws, while a jumper from Vaughn made the tally 74-62 at the 2:33 mark. Mount Olive scored the next seven points, making the score 74-67 on a pair of free throws from Hines with 1:32 remaining. Hines added a jumper at the 1:19 mark to get the Trojans within six. The ‘Dogs pushed the lead back to nine with a Lewis layup. Matilus and junior guard Ethan Kincaid (Morganton, N.C.) knocked down three free throws in the final 25 seconds to put the game away for the Bulldogs.
 
Wingate shot 47.5 percent from the field, hitting three-of-11 shots from three-point range (27.3 percent) and 21-of-29 free throws (72.4 percent). Mount Olive shot 38.8 percent from the field, hitting five-of-17 shots from beyond the arc (29.4 percent). The Trojans struggled at the free throw line, hitting 16-of-34 on the night (47.1 percent). Mount Olive out-rebounded the Bulldogs 45-40, while Wingate held a 42-28 advantage in the paint. Parker’s six blocks led the way for Wingate, while sophomore forward Deion Turman (Pittsburgh, Pa.) added four.

Wingate returns to action Dec. 30, hosting Belmont Abbey at 4 p.m. The Trojans travel to Augusta State Dec. 31 at 4 p.m.

(Wingate University assistant sports information director Hugh Patton wrote this article. Patton is a 2006 Wingate graduate with a B.A. degree in Communication Studies.)