Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs look to remain atop the SAC standings Saturday, as they host the Eagles of Carson-Newman University in South Atlantic Conference men’s basketball action at 4 p.m. in Cuddy Arena. Wingate is 12-5 overall and 8-1 in the SAC. The eagles enter the contest 13-4 overall and 6-3 in the conference.

The Bulldogs registered their seventh win in eight contests Wednesday night, defeating Catawba 78-68. Wingate led by as many as 28 late in the second half, but a game-closing 18-0 run by the Indians made the final margin 10. Junior center Deion Turman (Pittsburgh, Pa.) had 19 points on nine-of-nine shooting from the field, adding six rebounds. Junior forward Jeff Parker (Madison, N.C.) added 14 points, while sophomore guard Ryan Daye (Burlington, N.C.) had 13 points. Senior forward Odell Turner (Charlotte, N.C.) piled up 12 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals while senior guard Eddie Lewis (Rocky Point, N.C.) added nine points and six steals.

Wingate’s had its six-game winning streak snapped last Saturday night in a 60-58 loss at 12th-ranked Lincoln Memorial. The Bulldogs out-shot the Railsplitters from the field and from three-point range, but could not overcome their 13 missed free throws in 22 attempts. Wingate was also out-rebounded for only the second time all season. Daye had 18 points to lead the Wingate attack Saturday, while Parker came off the bench to add 14 points.

Wingate’s winning streak reached six with a 66-55 road win at Anderson on the previous Wednesday, handing Anderson its first league-loss of the season. It was only the third loss at home for the Trojans in the past two seasons. Turman had 16 points and 14 rebounds to lead the attack, going seven-for-11 from the field. Senior guard Paidrick Matilus (Boynton Beach, Fla.) added 16 points and three steals, while senior guard Ethan Kincaid (Morganton, N.C.) had 13 points, three steals and three assists. Wingate’s defense held Anderson to its season-low of 55 points, while holding reigning SAC Player of the Year and the league’s leading scorer Denzail Jones to six points, 14 points below his season average entering the contest.

The Bulldogs and Eagles met three times last season, with Wingate all three contests. The Bulldogs have won seven straight games against Carson-Newman. Wingate won 83-74 in Cuddy last season, getting 18 points from Turner, 15 points from Matilus and 10 points and 13 rebounds from Parker. Turner and Turman had 15 points each in the 14-point road win, while Matilus added 10 points. Turner had 10 points and 11 rebounds in the 58-51 SAC Tournament victory.

Wingate’s balanced attack has three players scoring at least 11 points per game. Daye leads the team with 11.6 points per contest, including 14.3 points per game in league play. Daye is shooting 53.4 percent from the field and 60.3 percent in SAC play, ranking third in the conference. Daye is shooting a league-best 51 percent from three-point range. Turner is also scoring 11.6 points per game, while ranking second in the league with 9.2 rebounds per contest. His 60.6 percent shooting from the field in conference play ranks second in the SAC. Matilus is third on the team with 11.1 points per game.

Turman is fourth on the team with 8.8 points per game, while ranking fifth in the league with 7.6 rebounds per contest. He is shooting a league-best 64.4 percent from the field. His 67.7 percent shooting in conference games also leads the league. Kincaid is fourth in the SAC with 3.9 assists per game, while ranking sixth in assist-to-turnover ratio. Parker’s 1.4 blocks per contest rank third in the SAC.

The Carson-Newman offense features two of the three leading scorers in the conference. Antoine Davis ranks second with 19.5 points per game, shooting 50 percent from the field and 45.6 percent from three-point range. Ishmael Sanders is scoring 18.1 points per game, shooting 41.7 percent from beyond the arc. Davis and Sanders each average 3.2 triples per contest.

During SAC contests, the Bulldogs lead the league in scoring margin (17 points per game), field goal percentage (51.4 percent), field goal percentage defense (37.5 percent), steals per game (10.3) and three-point percentage defense (25.8 percent). The Bulldogs lead the nation in three-point percentage defense, while ranking 10th nationally in scoring defense.
WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Wingate University, ranked as the 6th “best value” in the South by U.S. News & World Report, serves nearly 2,700 students on three campuses in Wingate, Matthews and Hendersonville, N.C. Founded in 1896, the University offers 35 undergraduate majors, 37 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, graduate degrees in business, accounting, education, physician assistant studies and sport administration, and doctorates in pharmacy and education.
 
With a 14 to 1 student/teacher ratio, Wingate students gain the tools and support needed to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. To view current news, video and story ideas, visit www.youtube.com/wingateuniversity.
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past six years.

Wingate is first among NCAA Division II Academic All-America®-producing private colleges in the 2000’s with 52 selections. Among North Carolina’s colleges and universities, Wingate’s 52 Academic All-America® honorees are tied for first (with Duke University) during this millennium. Wingate’s 61 lifetime Academic All-America® picks are tops among all SAC schools. For more information, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com.