Men's Basketball | 11/13/2014 1:21:00 PM

Wingate, N.C.----The 2014-15 basketball season gets underway this weekend in Cuddy Arena, as the Bulldogs host the OrthoCarolina Challenge Friday and Saturday. Wingate welcomes Mars Hill, Limestone and Belmont Abbey to town, as each SAC school will face each Conference Carolinas school. The 'Dogs will open their season Friday night against Limestone at 7 p.m. Wingate takes on Belmont Abbey Saturday at 7 p.m. Wingate will provide free HD video for all four games, along with live stats.

Wingate University Bulldogs

The Bulldogs are coming off a 14-13 season, which included an 11-11 mark in conference play. Wingate has played in the SAC Tournament three times in the last four seasons, winning a pair of tournament titles. The Bulldogs have appeared in two NCAA Tournaments championship game over the past three seasons, advancing to the regional semifinals both years.

Wingate will be led by preseason All-SAC selection Ryan Daye (Burlington, N.C). A second team all-conference selection last year, Daye led the Bulldogs and ranked ninth in the SAC with 17.5 points per game. He added 3.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game to go along with 23 steals. Daye knocked down a team-best 65 threes, ranking 11th in the SAC. He finished ninth in the league in free throw shooting (82.8 percent), while scoring in double figures in 22 of 26 games. Junior point guard Xavier Griffin (Marshville, N.C.) started 25 games last season, averaging 8.4 points per game while ranking fifth in the SAC with 3.7 assists per game. He was seventh in the league in assist-to-turnover ratio, while shooting 36.2 percent from three-point range and 78.5 percent at the free throw line.

The Bulldogs had a pair of All-SAC Freshman team members last year, including league Freshman of the Year Isiah Cureton (Waxhaw, N.C.). He finished fourth on the team with 9.4 points per game, ranking second on the team and ninth in the SAC with 6.5 rebounds per game. He was fifth in the SAC with 1.6 steals per game, while shooting 49.2 percent from the field. Sophomore Josh Dominguez (Matthews, N.C.) was third on the team with 9.7 points per game, adding 3.1 rebounds per contest. He finished second on the team with 31 made three pointers, shooting 39.7 percent from beyond the arc to rank 11th in the SAC.

Another player who made a big impact as a freshman was Keith Griffin (Concord, N.C.), who appeared in 26 contests last year, averaging 3.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, shooting 51.9 percent while adding nine blocked shots. Redshirt sophomore forward Terrill Hilliard (Rocky Mount, N.C.) averaged 4.1 points and 2.2 rebounds per game, making 22 appearances for the 'Dogs last season. Sophomore Dustin Dodd (Concord, N.C.) knocked down nine triples in 20 contests last year to average 1.9 points per game. The Bulldogs will also look for contributions from their eight newcomers this season.

Mars Hill University Lions

The Lions will face Belmont Abbey Friday at 5 p.m., then take on Limestone Saturday at 5 p.m. Mars Hill returners five players from last year's 6-21 team, which posted a 5-17 record in the South Atlantic Conference. Mars Hill was picked to finish 12th in the preseason SAC poll.

Mars Hill's leading returning scorer is senior forward Isiah Cuthbertson, who averaged 13.6 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. He shot 62.9 percent from the field last season and earned preseason All-SAC honors this year. Junior guard Jalen Witherspoon was fourth on the team in scoring last year, averaging 7.9 points per game, adding 3.7 rebounds per game. The Lions faced Limestone and Belmont Abbey last season. Mars Hill lost 97-86 at home against the Saints, while dropping a 93-85 contest at Belmont Abbey. Witherspoon had 19 points against Limestone, while Cuthbertson piled up 26 points and 18 boards at Belmont Abbey.

Limestone College Saints

Limestone will face Wingate Friday at 7 p.m., then take on Mars Hill Saturday at 5 p.m. The Saints are ranked 21st in the Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25 Poll, while receiving votes in the NABC preseason poll.  The Saints have made three NCAA Tournament appearances in the past four seasons and have won two Conference Carolinas Tournament titles to go along with a regular season league championship.  

The Saints went 21-9 last season, winning the Conference Carolinas Tournament title. Limestone earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year, marking the first time in program history the Saints earned bids in back-to-back seasons. The Saints were picked second in the preseason Conference Carolinas poll. Limestone is led by senior guard/forward Asaad Woods and sophomore forward Shaq Dance. Woods averaged 12.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per game last year, while Dance averaged 12.1 points and 5.4 boards last season. Limestone defeated Mars Hill last year, with Woods pouring in 31 points. Limestone did not play Wingate last season. The Bulldogs and Saints met on the opening weekend of the 2012-13 season, with Limestone prevailing 75-71 in Cuddy Arena. The two teams met again in the NCAA Tournament, with the Bulldogs winning 65-60 in the opening round contest.

Belmont Abbey College Crusaders

Belmont Abbey will take on Mars Hill Friday at 5 p.m., then face Wingate Saturday at 7 p.m. The Crusaders went 11-16 in the 2013-14 season, going 7-9 in Conference Carolinas. Belmont Abbey was picked to finish seventh in the preseason coaches poll.  

BAC is missing its top three scorers from last season. Senior guard Justin Kuhlman is the returning leading scorer. He averaged 11.1 points per game, adding a team-best 3.9 assists per contest. Kuhlman shot 43 percent from three-point range and 83.1 percent from the free throw line. Sophomore guard Ray Chen averaged 9.4 points per contest last year, shooting 36.9 percent from beyond the arc. The Crusaders defeated Mars Hill last season, getting 19 points from Kuhlman. BAC has not played Wingate since the 2011-12 season, when the Bulldogs won 83-77 in Cuddy Arena.

OrthoCarolina Challenge Schedule
All Games played in Cuddy Arena at Wingate University
Friday, Nov. 14
5 p.m. – Belmont Abbey vs. Mars Hill (Video | Live Stats)
7 p.m. – Limestone vs. Wingate (Video | Live Stats)
Saturday, Nov. 15
5 p.m. – Limestone vs. Mars Hill (Video | Live Stats)
7 p.m. – Belmont Abbey vs. Wingate  (Video | Live Stats)