Box Score  

Greenville, S.C.----The third-seeded Wingate University Bulldogs scored 11 of the first 12 points in overtime Saturday night, prevailing 75-70 over the second-seeded Trojans of Anderson University in the semifinals of the 2013 Food Lion SAC men’s basketball tournament in Timmons Arena. The Bulldogs improve to 20-8 overall, advancing to Sunday’s SAC championship game to take on Lincoln Memorial. Anderson falls to 19-9 overall.

Wingate advances to the SAC title game for the third consecutive year. The Bulldogs won the championship in 2012, defeating Anderson to claim the victory and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Wingate and LMU met in the SAC championship game in 2011, with the Railsplitters claiming the title.

Sophomore guard Ryan Daye (Burlington, N.C.) had 16 points to lead the Wingate attack. Senior guard Paidrick Matilus (Boynton Beach, Fla.) added 14 points, six rebounds and four steals. Junior center Deion Turman (Pittsburgh, Pa.) had 13 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks, while senior Eddie Lewis (Rocky Point, N.C.) had 12 points. Senior forward Odell Turner (Charlotte, N.C.) had nine points and 15 rebounds. The second team All-SAC selection became league’s all-time career rebounding leader. He now has 929 career rebounds.

Chandler Hash had 21 points to lead the Anderson attack, hitting 14-of-14 shots from the free throw line. Myson Jones added 15 points. Kyle Sledge added 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Bo Holston and DJ McGowan contributed 11 points each for the Trojans.

A Lewis triple gave Wingate a 15-12 lead seven minutes into the contest. Jones nailed a jumper and a three to put Anderson on top 22-19 with nine minutes remaining. A pair of Hash free throws gave the Trojans a four point lead with 6:22 remaining. Wingate closed the half on a 19-7 run to take an eight-point halftime lead. A Day triple put the ‘Dogs on top, while a Turman layup and Lewis three-point play made it 36-30. Lewis knocked down a three with seven seconds left in the half to make it 41-33 at halftime.

Senior guard Ethan Kincaid (Morganton, N.C.) gave Wingate a 47-35 lead one minute into the second half. Anderson used an 8-0 run to cut the lead to three with 12:47 remaining on a Sledge dunk. Matilus capped a quick 5-0 Wingate run with a three to push the lead back to eight. The Trojans used a 10-2 run, tying the game at 56 on a Hash jumper with 4:29 to go.

Daye answered with a three to put Wingate back on top, but four Hash free throws gave Anderson a one-point advantage with 29 seconds remaining. Wingate had the answer, getting a huge triple from Lewis with nine seconds left, putting the ‘Dogs on top by two. After a timeout, Anderson ran a half-court inbounds play and found Sledge under the basket for the game-tying layup with two seconds left, forcing overtime.

Nobody scored the first 3:30 of overtime. Turner grabbed three offensive rebounds on one possession, finding Daye after the third rebound for a triple to give Wingate the lead for good. Turner grabbed another offensive rebound the next possession and converted a three-point play to push the lead to six. Matilus then made a layup, while free throws from Kincaid and Daye gave Wingate a 74-63 lead with 22 seconds remaining.

The Bulldogs shot 36.2 percent from the field, hitting 10-of-22 shots from three-point range (45.5 percent). Anderson shot 40.4 percent from the field, while knocking down eight-of-23 shots from beyond the arc (34.8 percent). Wingate dominated the boards, out-rebounding Anderson 51-32 while scoring 20 second-chance points compared to Anderson’s six.

Sunday’s championship game will take place at 4:30 p.m. in Timmons Arena.