BOX SCORE

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs had four players score in double figures, as they cruised to a 70-47 victory over the visiting Bears of Lenoir-Rhyne University in South Atlantic Conference men’s basketball action Wednesday night in Cuddy Arena. The Bulldogs win their third straight, improving to 13-10 overall and 9-4 in the SAC. LRU falls to 11-11 overall and 7-6 in the SAC.

Senior guard Chase Smith (Upper Marlboro, Md.) had 16 points to lead the Wingate attack, knocking down four-of-six shots from beyond the arc. Sophomore forward Deion Turman (Pittsburgh, Pa.) had 14 points and a career-high 12 rebounds for the Bulldogs, notching his second consecutive double-double. Junior forward Odell Turner (Charlotte, N.C.) had 12 points, five rebounds and five blocks, while senior guard Jaime Vaughn (Tallahassee, Fla.) contributed with 11 points and five boards.

Sophomore forward Allan Jones (Clemmons, N.C.) had 12 points and five rebounds to lead the Lenoir-Rhyne attack. Freshman guard A.J. McKenzie (Gastonia, N.C.) added 11 points for the Bears, while senior guard Kevin Davis (Charlotte, N.C.) contributed eight points and seven rebounds.

The Bulldogs would never trail in the game, scoring the first eight points to gain an 8-0 advantage on a Turman lay-up three minutes into the contest. L-R answered with the next six points to make the contest a two-point game on a bucket from sophomore center Matt Kunz (Kernersville, N.C.). The ‘Dogs had the answer, getting buckets from Vaughn and Turman, to go on top 17-8 at the midway point of the first half.

A jumper from Jones trimmed the deficit to six at the 2:09 mark. The Bulldogs scored five of the last seven points of the half to push the lead to nine at intermission. Junior guard Ethan Kincaid (Morganton, N.C.) started the explosion with a lay-up, while a triple from Smith put the lead in double figures. McKenzie hit a pair of free throws in the final minute to make the score 32-23 at halftime.

A Davis triple 12 seconds into the second half cut the Bear deficit to six. The visitors would get no closer the rest of the way. Vaughn answered with a three, while a quick 9-0 Wingate run would push the lead to 18 four minutes into the half. Turner and Matilus started the spurt with lay-ups, while a triple from Kincaid and lay-up from Vaughn made the score 46-28. A three from Smith put the Bulldogs on top by 20 at the 11:02 mark.

A lay-up and two free throws from senior center Jeff Thomas (Chapel Hill, N.C.) got the Bears to within 13 at 60-47. The ‘Dogs closed the game on a 10-0 run to make the final margin 23. Kincaid started the flurry with an offensive rebound and a jumper, while finding Turner open for a three on the next possession. A put-back dunk from Turman pushed the lead back to 20, while a triple from junior forward Quan Alexander (Charlotte, N.C.) capped the scoring on the night with 43 seconds to go.

Wingate shot 48.1 percent on the night, knocking down eight-of-15 from three-point range (53.3 percent). LRU shot only 30 percent from the field, while hitting only two-of-10 from beyond the arc (20 percent). Wingate held a 39-33 rebounding edge, while doubling up the Bears in the paint (28-14). Wingate converted 13 L-R turnovers into 17 points on the night.
The Bulldogs return to action Saturday, hosting Tusculum at 4 p.m. The Bears will entertain Carson-Newman Saturday at 6 p.m.