Mars Hill, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs won their fourth straight conference road game Saturday afternoon, prevailing 74-60 in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action. Wingate improves to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in the SAC, with all four victories coming on the road. MHU falls to 5-3 overall and 1-3 in the conference.

Senior guard Ryan Daye (Burlington, N.C.) had 18 points to lead the Wingate attack, going seven-of-10 from the field and four-of-five from three-point range. Sophomore forward Isiah Cureton (Waxhaw, N.C.) added 12 points, six rebounds and two assists, while freshman guard Zeriq Lolar (Orlando, Fla.) had 12 points, four rebounds and three steals. Sophomore forward Terrill Hilliard (Rocky Mount, N.C.) had nine points, four rebounds and two assists, while junior guard Xavier Griffin (Marshville, N.C.) contributed five points, five assists and five rebounds. Sophomore center Keith Griffin (Concord, N.C.) had six points and five boards.

Patrick Monroe had 10 points to lead the Mars Hill attack. Isaiah Cuthbertson, Jalen Witherspoon and Brandon Watkins added nine points each for the Lions, while Michael Carson contributed seven points.

Wingate jumped out to a 10-0 lead, getting two quick Lolar triples along with a Keith Griffin dunk. A Witherspoon jumper cut the lead to four at 10-6, but an 8-0 run made it 18-6. Daye and Hilliard hit back-to-back threes to cap the spurt at the 13:07 mark.

Back-to-back buckets from Watkins cut the lead to six at 20-14, but a layup and triple from freshman guard Bryan Rouse (Greensboro, N.C.) gave the 'Dogs an 11-point lead with 6:47 remaining. The Lions answered with a 9-0 run, cutting the lead to two when a Witherspoon three made it 27-25 at the 3:48 mark. A pair of Daye jumpers, followed by a Daye triple pushed the lead to six with 31 seconds left, but a Monroe jumper in the final seconds cut Wingate's lead to 34-30 at halftime.

A Xavier Griffin layup five minutes into the second half put the Bulldogs on top by seven. Carson knocked down a triple at the 10:52 mark to get the Lions to within two at 45-43. The Bulldogs would then use a decisive 13-0 run to take control of the game. Keith Griffin started the flurry with a layup, while triples from Daye and Cureton gave the 'Dogs a 10-point lead. Daye added another three, while two Cureton free throws made it 60-45 with seven minutes remaining.

Four straight points from Cuthbertson trimmed the lead to 11, but Hilliard's three-point play along with two Lolar free throws pushed the advantage to 16. A Cureton dunk, followed by a Cureton three-point play gave the Bulldogs a 73-55 lead with 1:38 remaining.

The Bulldogs shot a season-high 54.3 percent from the field, while knocking down a season-high nine three pointers on 52.9 percent shooting. Wingate also went 15-for-19 at the free throw line (78.9 percent). Mars Hill shot 36.1 percent from the field, hitting five-of-22 shots from beyond the arc (22.7 percent). Each team grabbed 33 rebounds, while the Bulldogs converted 16 Mars Hill turnovers into 21 points, holding a 13-2 edge in fast-break points.

Wingate is back in action Monday, hosting Johnson C. Smith at 7 p.m.