Box Score  

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs improved on their best-ever start in SAC play Saturday afternoon, defeating the visiting Brevard College Tornados 78-57 in South Atlantic Conference men’s basketball action in Cuddy Arena. The Bulldogs win their fifth straight, improving to 10-4 overall and 6-0 in the SAC. Brevard falls to 2-12 overall and 1-5 in the conference.

The Bulldogs have won every game in their five-game winning streak by at least 21 points. Wingate has won the five contests by a total of 132 points, good for an average victory of 26.4 points per game. The Bulldogs have shot at least 52 percent in all five games, while shooting over 50 percent for a league-best eighth time this season.

Senior forward Odell Turner (Charlotte, N.C.) had 16 points and nine rebounds to lead the Wingate attack, hitting seven-of-10 shots from the field. Senior guard Paidrick Matilus (Boynton Beach, Fla.) added 15 points, five rebounds and three assists, while sophomore guard Ryan Daye (Burlington, N.C.) had 15 points in 17 minutes, going five-of-six from the field.

Dominque Pickett had 15 points to lead the Tornados, hitting three-of-six shots from three-point range. Miles Leathers added 13 points and seven rebounds, while Alex Moe had 10 points and four assists.

A triple from Pickett, followed by two free throws from Moe gave Brevard a 17-14 lead seven minutes into the contest. The Bulldogs regained the lead on a Daye triple. A jumper from Gerel Simmons at the 10-minute mark tied the game at 19. Wingate answered with an 11-0 run to take a 30-19 lead. Turner started it with back-to-back buckets, while Matilus added a jumper. Senior guard Eddie Lewis (Rocky Point, N.C.) knocked down a triple, while a jumper from senior forward Quan Alexander (Charlotte, N.C.) capped the flurry.

A layup from Turman pushed the lead to 14 with under five minutes to go. Brevard scored the next nine points, cutting the lead to five on a triple from Moe with 2:56 left in the half. Wingate answered with six straight points, taking an 11-point lead on a layup from junior forward Jeff Parker (Madison, N.C.) with 1:22 remaining. A three-point play from Turner helped the Bulldogs take a 46-34 lead heading to halftime.

Brevard came out hot in the second half, cutting the lead to three on a layup from Matthew Ward five minutes into the half. The Bulldogs used an 11-0 run to take a 59-45 lead. A Turman jumper and Matilus three got it started, while Parker capped the flurry with a three-point play.

Filip Gujanicic got Brevard back to within nine with 6:26 remaining with a layup. A Daye jumper and Turman bucket started a 14-0 run for the Bulldogs. Lewis capped the flurry with a triple to give the Bulldogs a 77-54 advantage with 2:24 remaining.

Wingate shot 55.8 from the field, while hitting five-of-13 shots from three-point range (38.5 percent). The Bulldogs have shot above 55 percent in each of the past three contests. Brevard shot 38.6 percent from the field, hitting seven-of-19 shots from three-point range (36.8 percent). Wingate held a 34-29 rebounding advantage, while outscoring Brevard 40-16 in the paint. The Bulldogs converted 20 Brevard turnovers into 25 points.

Wingate returns to action Wednesday, traveling to Anderson at 8 p.m. The Bulldogs and Trojans are both 6-0 in the SAC. Brevard hosts Newberry Wednesday at 8 p.m.