Box Score
 
Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University senior forward Odell Turner (Charlotte, N.C.) had 19 points and eight rebounds to lead the Bulldogs past the visiting Lakers of Clayton State University 68-53 in NCAA Division II men’s basketball action Saturday afternoon in Cuddy Arena. The Bulldogs improve to 3-2 overall, while the Lakers fall to 2-1 on the season.

Sophomore guard Ryan Daye (Burlington, N.C.) added 14 points for the Bulldogs, knocking down all four shots from beyond the arc. Senior guard Paidrick Matilus (Boynton Beach, Fla.) had 13 points and five rebounds for the Bulldogs, while senior guard Ethan Kincaid (Morganton, N.C.) registered eight points and nine assists.

“I thought it was as well as we have shared the ball in a long time, which led directly a really good shooting night,” head coach Brian Good says. “This is two games in a row now that we have defended like we would like to defend. Put that together with the way we shared it and we should have a good chance to win some more games.”

Junior forward Omari Murray (Marietta, Ga.) had 12 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Clayton State attack. Junior forward Charles Shedrick (Douglasville, Ga.) added 12 points for the Lakers, while senior guard Tony Dukes (Ellenwood, Ga.) had nine points.

The Bulldogs came out hot, taking a 10-1 lead five minutes into the contest. Turner had five points in the early spurt, while Kincaid added two points, an assist and a steal. A layup from Dukes at the 12:29 mark got the Lakers to within six at 13-7. Matilus answered with a pair of free throws and a triple to make it 18-7.

The Lakers made it a four-point game when a pair of buckets from senior center Tim Budd (Summerville, S.C.) made it 22-18 with 7:28 remaining in the half. Another Matilus three, followed by a Turner layup pushed the lead back to nine. Clayton State got back to within five when a steal and a layup from Dukes made it 30-25 with 36 seconds left in the half. Turner answered with a pair of free throws, while a layup at the buzzer from senior guard Eddie Lewis (Rocky Point, N.C.) made it 34-25 at halftime.

A 5-0 run from the Lakers made it a three point game eight minutes into the second half, capped by a three from Charles. Wingate responded with an 8-0 run to push the advantage back to 11. Junior forward Deion Turman (Pittsburgh, Pa.) started the spurt with a three-point play, while a free throw and a layup from Kincaid ended the flurry at the 7:25 mark.

Clayton State would get to within eight on a three-point play from Murray with 5:44 remaining, but a Turner jumper and Matilus triple made it 61-48 at the 4:17 mark. Wingate’s lead would remain in double figures the rest of the way. Daye hit Turner on the baseline for a dunk with 40 seconds left to give the Bulldogs a 15-point advantage, their largest lead of the day.

Wingate shot 52.3 percent from the field, while knocking down eight-of-16 shots from beyond the arc (50 percent). Clayton State shot 40.4 percent from the field, hitting just three-of-15 shots from three-point range (20 percent). The Bulldogs out-rebounded Clayton State 33-31, while the Lakers held a 12-7 edge in second chance points. The Bulldogs held a 16-4 edge in fast break points.

Wingate returns to action Wednesday, traveling to Catawba to open SAC play at 8 p.m. Clayton State hosts Carver Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.