Wingate, N.C.----Lincoln Memorial University redshirt junior guard Gerel Simmons came off the bench to score a game-high 26 points Saturday afternoon, leading the fourth-ranked Railsplitters to an 81-62 victory over Wingate University in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action in Cuddy Arena. LMU improves to 14-0 overall and 8-0 in the SAC, while the Bulldogs drop their sixth straight game, falling to 7-7 overall and 4-4 in the conference.

Simmons hit nine-of-11 shots from the field, knocking down six-of-eight shots from three-point range. Luquon Choice added 14 points, hitting four-of-seven shots from beyond the arc, while Lorenza Ross had 12 points and six assists. Curtis McMillion chipped in with eight points, while Keenan Peterson had six points and 10 rebounds.

Senior guard Ryan Daye (Burlington, N.C.) had 13 points to lead the Wingate attack, going five-for-seven from the field. Sophomore forward Josh Dominguez (Matthews, N.C.) added 10 points on four-of-four shooting, while junior forward Herbert Harrison (Marietta, Ga.) had nine points and six rebounds. Junior guard Xavier Griffin (Marshville, N.C.) and freshman guard Bryan Rouse (Greensboro, N.C.) contributed eight points each for the Bulldogs.

A Dominguez layup and Daye triple gave Wingate an early 9-7 lead, but back-to-back Ross layups gave the Railsplitters a four-point lead seven minutes into the contest. A pair of Dominguez free throws, along with a Griffin layup trimmed the lead to two, while a Daye bucket tied it at 19 with 9:26 to go. LMU responded with a 13-2 run, highlighted by a Choice three and two Simmons triple. Buckets from Choice and CJ Wakeley in the final two minutes helped LMU take a 40-26 halftime lead.

Choice buried an early lead to stretch the lead to 17, but a Dominguez bucket and two Griffin free throws trimmed the lead to 13. A Ross jumper and Simmons three put Lincoln Memorial on top 52-34 at the 14:22 mark. Wingate would get no closer than 14 the rest of the way.

LMU shot 52.8 percent from the field, the fifth consecutive team to shoot over 50 percent against Wingate. The Railsplitters went 11-for-18 from three-point range (61.1 percent). Wingate's last five opponents are now 39-for-62 from beyond the arc (.629 percent). The Bulldogs shot 38.2 percent from the field, going one-for-seven from three-point range (14.3 percent). LMU held a 38-32 rebounding advantage, while Wingate outscored the Railsplitters 40-24 in the paint.

Wingate is back in action Wednesday, traveling to Queens for an 8 p.m. start.