Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University junior guard Jaime Vaughn (Tallahassee, Fla.) scored 22 points, sophomore point guard Ethan Kincaid (Morganton, N.C.) posted a career-high 19 and sophomore center Odell Turner (Charlotte, N.C. scored 14 points and grabbed 16 rebounds as the Bulldogs used a big rebounding edge to defeat the Mars Hill College Lions 85-78 in South Atlantic Conference action at Cuddy Arena Saturday.
Sophomore forward Quan Alexander (Charlotte, N.C.) added 10 points and 12 boards for Wingate (16-8 overall, 11-5 SAC). The host Bulldogs outrebounded Mars Hill 46-31. Winners of a season-high six straight games, Wingate entertains Anderson (S.C.) University Wednesday at 8 p.m. Mars Hill hosts Catawba College the same day and time.
Junior forward Sammy Emile (Lake Worth, Fla.) scored 25 points and junior guard Tarron Stewart (Tampa, Fla.) added 22 markers for Mars Hill (9-15 overall, 6-10 SAC). The Lions hit 12 three-pointers in a January victory over the Bulldogs. Mars Hill managed only two long-range baskets Saturday. In addition, the Lions allowed the Bulldogs 17 offensive rebounds en route to 17 second-chance points.
Mars Hill led 33-26 with 5:04 left in the first half, but a 10-2 run, sparked by four free throws from Vaughn, gave the Bulldogs a 36-35 halftime edge. Turner had nine first-half points, while Emile led the visitors with 11 points in the opening frame.
Vaughn hit a three-pointer and another basket during a 7-0 run early in the second half, pushing the Bulldogs to a 54-47 lead with 13:23 left. Wingate extended the advantage to 69-57 with 4:47 left, but Mars Hill stormed back with a 13-4 run that got the Lions within 73-70 with 2:48 left. Mars Hill made only three baskets the rest of the game and the Bulldogs made their free throws to secure the victory.
Mars Hill outscored Wingate 40-22 in the paint. In addition, the Lions posted 17 points from 14 Bulldog turnovers. Wingate managed only three points from 12 Lion miscues. The second-chance points played a huge difference, as Wingate outscored Mars Hill 17-8 in this category.
Turner had six offensive rebounds, while Alexander and freshman forward Jeffrey Parker (Madison, N.C.) had three each. The trio had more offensive rebounds (12) than the entire MHC roster (eight). Parker had three blocked shots, while Turner rejected two. Turner’s statistics ledger also includes a team-high four steals.
(Ryan Stanzel wrote this article. Stanzel is a 2000 Wingate graduate with a B.A. degree in Communication Studies. Stanzel is currently the media relations and team services coordinator for the National Hockey League’s Minnesota Wild.)
