Box Score  

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs trimmed a 21-point second half deficit to four, but were unable to complete the comeback, falling 99-85 against visiting Newberry College in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action in Cuddy Arena. Newberry improves to 18-7 overall and 14-7 in the SAC, while Wingate drops its fifth straight, falling to 13-12 overall and 10-11 in the conference.

Dondray Walker scored a game-high 26 points to lead the Newberry attack, knocking down six shots from beyond the arc. Brunes Charles added 12 points and five rebounds, while Mitch Riggs also had 12 points, hitting four-of-seven shots from three-point range. Demarkus Smith added 10 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Gerald Evans had seven points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals. Newberry knocked down 20 threes on the night.

Sophomore guard Xavier Griffin (Marshville, N.C.) had a career-high 19 points to lead the Wingate attack, adding three assists and three steals. Junior guard Ryan Daye (Burlington, N.C.) added 15 points and five assists, while senior center Deion Turman (Pittsburgh, Pa.) notched his 13th double-double of the year with 13 points and 11 boards. Freshman forward Isiah Cureton (Waxhaw, N.C.) contributed 11 points, five rebounds, four steals and three assists, while freshman Josh Dominguez (Matthews, N.C.) had 10 points for the Bulldogs.

A triple from Riggs put the Wolves on top 14-8 eight minutes into the contest. Wingate countered with a 9-1 run, taking a 17-15 lead on a pair of Cureton free throws. A triple and two free throws from Daye put the 'Dogs on top by four with eight minutes left in the half. Newberry responded with a 20-9 run, taking a 40-29 advantage on a Smith triple at the 2:15 mark. A Charles triple in the final minute helped the Wolves take a 43-33 lead into halftime.

Newberry scored the first 11 points of the second half, taking a 54-33 lead on a Brandon Taylor triple two minutes into the half. Wingate used a 10-0 run to cut the deficit back to single figures six minutes later, with a Griffin three making it 63-54 with 11:27 remaining. A three from Evans pushed the lead back to 14, but the Bulldogs answered with a 12-2 run. Cureton started the flurry with a three, while Griffin capped it with a triple at the 7:21 mark, making it 70-66.

Riggs buried a three to push the lead back to seven, but a Griffin layup and Turman free throw cut the lead back to four with six minutes left. Newberry used a 7-1 run, pushing the lead back to 10 on a Riggs three with 5:24 to go. A layup from Daye cut the lead back to six, but back-to-back layups from Xavier Holmes made it 85-74 with 3:48 remaining. Another Riggs triple at the 2:02 mark put the Wolves on top by 14. The lead would remain in double figures the rest of the way.

Newberry shot 45.7 percent from the field, hitting 20-of-47 shots from three-point range (42.6 percent). Wingate shot 52.5 percent from the field, going six-for-15 from beyond the arc (40 percent). Both teams pulled down 40 rebounds, while Newbery held an 18-11 edge in second chance points. The Wolves converted 22 Wingate turnovers into 33 points, while the Bulldogs held a 42-20 advantage in points in the paint.

The Bulldogs return to action Saturday, wrapping up the regular season at Brevard at 4 p.m.