Wingate, N.C.----The number three seed Wingate University men’s basketball team (17-9 overall, 12-6 SAC) will host number six seed Brevard College (13-13 overall, 8-10 SAC) in a Food Lion SAC tournament first round contest on Wednesday, March 2 at 8 p.m. The Bulldogs have won three Food Lion SAC tournament titles.
 
The Bulldogs ended the season on a good note, picking up an important 87-77 road victory at Brevard Saturday afternoon. Wingate junior guard Jaime Vaughn (Tallahassee, Fla.) recorded his first career double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead five Bulldogs in double figures. The Bulldogs won seven of their last eight league games to secure a tie for second place in the SAC standings (with Anderson University).

Bulldog sophomore forward Odell Turner (Charlotte, N.C.) had 14 points and six rebounds Saturday at Brevard. Junior guard Chase Smith (Upper Marlboro, Md.) added 13 points. Sophomore guard Paidrick Matilus (Boynton Beach, Fla.) and freshman guard Robert Carpenter (Fayetteville, N.C.) contributed 12 and 11 points, respectively, off the Wingate bench. Carpenter hit three-of-three field goals from downtown (and four-of-four total) Saturday.

Wingate hit seven-of-12 three-point field goals in the first half (58.3 percent) en route to a 41-26 halftime lead. The Bulldogs hit 53.1 percent from the floor (17-of-32) in the opening frame. Wingate sophomore point guard Ethan Kincaid (Morganton, N.C.) had a huge game with nine assists, seven rebounds and five points in 33 minutes played. The Bulldogs shot 56.9 percent from the floor (33-of-58) and 57.9 percent from three-point territory (11-of-19).

Matilus, Carpenter and the Wingate reserves outscored the Brevard bench 29-15. The Bulldogs held a 32-12 advantage in points in the paint. Brevard outrebounded Wingate by a slight 43-37 margin.
Anderson University shot 68 percent in the second half and weathered a valiant comeback to take an 87-81 SAC victory over Wingate last Wednesday night in Cuddy Arena. Turner had 23 points and seven rebounds to lead the home-standing Bulldogs.

Turner is listed in the SAC top 15 in scoring (ninth), rebounding (fourth), FG pct. (10th), steals (14th) and blocks (fourth). Wingate completed the regular season 7-1 overall as Turner averaged 19.6 points per game and 9.0 rebounds per game during this time span. He shot 59.8 percent (55-of-92) from the floor in the final eight games of the regular season.

The Bulldog basketball teams are hosting a first-round doubleheader in the Food Lion SAC basketball tournament Wednesday, March 2. The Wingate women host Catawba at 6 p.m. The Bulldog men face Brevard College at 8 p.m. Admission is free for Wingate administration, faculty, staff and students on Wednesday night only.

Non-Wingate administration, faculty, staff and students can purchase tickets for Wednesday’s quarter-final games at the following rates: $6 for adults, $3 for children, students and visiting college students with ID.

The 2010 volleyball team will be honored at halftime of the women’s game. During the men’s halftime, the 2010 cross country seniors and the 2010 men’s soccer team will be recognized.

Tickets for semi-final and championship rounds are $10 for adults and $5 for children, students and college students with ID. Fans showing the Food Lion MVP card can save $1 off the price of an adult ticket for the quarterfinals ($5 with Food Lion MVP card) and the semifinals and championship ($9 with Food Lion MVP card). The tournament winner will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II playoffs.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a private comprehensive university with more than 2,300 students on two campuses in Wingate and Matthews, North Carolina. The university offers 32 undergraduate majors, 36 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, graduate degrees in business, accounting, physician assistant studies and sports administration and doctorates in pharmacy and education.

Wingate students gain the tools and support they need to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. The campus community offers in-class learning, out-of-class experiences, strong mentors, a competitive yet caring environment and rewarding community service opportunities for a complete educational experience.

Bulldog student-athletes compete in 19 NCAA Division II sports. Wingate University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past four years.

Wingate University is ranked number three among NCAA Division II Academic All-America® producing schools in the 2000’s with 38 honorees during this millennium. Only Pittsburg State (Kan.) University and Truman State (Mo.) University have produced more Academic All-America® honorees during this time period. Wingate’s 47 Academic All-America® honorees (lifetime) is tops among all SAC schools.