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Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University’s three front court players combined to score 45 points on 21-of-28 shooting from the field to lead the Bulldogs to a 78-68 victory over Catawba College in South Atlantic Conference men’s basketball action Wednesday night in Cuddy Arena. The Bulldogs improve to 12-5 overall and 8-1 in the SAC, while Catawba falls to 5-12 overall and 2-7 in the conference. 

The Bulldogs have won seven of their last eight games, with all seven wins coming by double figures. Wingate led by as many as 28 in the second half, but Catawba finished the game on an 18-0 run to make the final margin 10. The Bulldogs had won their last three home games by over 20 points. Wingate is tied with Lincoln Memorial atop the league standings at the midway point of the SAC season. 

Junior center Deion Turman (Pittsburgh, Pa.) led the way with 19 points, hitting nine-of-nine shots from the field while adding six rebounds. Junior forward Jeff Parker (Madison, N.C.) came off the bench to score 14 points for the second consecutive game, hitting six-of-10 shots from the field. Senior forward Odell Turner (Charlotte, N.C.) contributed 12 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Sophomore guard Ryan Daye (Burlington, N.C.) added 13 points in 20 minutes of action, adding two blocked shots. Senior guard Eddie Lewis (Rocky Point, N.C.) registered nine points, six steals and four assists. 

Tyrece Little led the Catawba attack with game highs of 23 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks. Lee Martin added 12 points, while Vismantas Marijosius contributed 10 points for the Indians. 

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first five minutes, taking a 10-point lead on a triple from Daye. Threes from Elon Edwards and Reggie Perkins trimmed the lead to four at 13-9. Wingate answered with a 9-0 run to push the advantage to 13. Turner had a layup and a dunk in the spurt, while a Daye triple made it 22-9 at the 10:20 mark. Back-to-back Turman buckets, followed by a Turner layup made it 28-11 with 8:33 remaining in the half. Parker had a jumper and a dunk, while another Turner layup made it 41-20 in the final minute. The Bulldogs held a 43-22 advantage at halftime. 

The Indians started the second half on a 13-5 run, making it a 13-point game on a jumper from Little five minutes into the half. A triple from senior guard Paidrick Matilus (Boynton Beach, Fla.), followed by a Turman dunk pushed the Wingate lead back over 20 at the 11:54 mark. The Bulldogs used a 14-4 run to take a 78-50 advantage. Turman had a pair of early buckets in the flurry, while Lewis added a triple. Senior guard Ethan Kincaid (Morganton, N.C.) knocked down a three to give Wingate a 28-point lead with 5:38 remaining. Catawba then went on an 18-0 run to close the game, making the final score 78-68. 

Wingate shot 52 percent from the field, hitting seven-of-12 shots from three-point range (58 percent). Catawba shot 47 percent from the field, hitting five-of-13 shots from beyond the arc (47 percent). Wingate converted 16 Catawba turnovers into 26 points, while out-rebounding the Indians 39-30. 

Wingate returns to action Saturday, hosting Carson-Newman at 4 p.m. Catawba hosts Lincoln Memorial at 4 p.m.