Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University men's basketball team accumulated 43 bench points en route to an 81-44 South Atlantic Conference victory over Mars Hill University Saturday afternoon in Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Court. The WU Bulldogs never trailed, improving to 11-9 overall and 8-6 in the SAC. The MHU Lions are 8-12 overall and 3-11 in the SAC.
 
Wingate redshirt sophomore forward Terrill Hilliard (Rocky Mount, N.C.) led all scorers with 16 points. Sophomore guard Anthanee Doyle (Holly Springs, N.C.) contributed 11 points, while senior guard Ryan Daye (Burlington, N.C.) and junior guard Xavier Griffin (Marshville, N.C.) had 10 points each. Twelve players saw time for the Bulldogs Saturday; 12 players found the scoring column.
 
For Mars Hill, junior guard Kevin Haynes (Snellville, Ga.) had nine points. MHU senior forward Isaiah Cuthbertson (Cleveland, N.C.) had eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds. The Lions shot a season-low 24.4 percent from the floor Saturday (11-of-45).
 
Wingate never trailed Saturday, shooting 59.3 percent in the first half (16-of-27) while sprinting to a 46-20 advantage at intermission. Hilliard and Doyle had nine points each in the first half, while Mars Hill junior guard Michael Carson (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) had seven markers. The Lions hit only five first-half field goals.
 
The Bulldogs stretched their advantage to 39 points in the waning moments. On the afternoon, Wingate shot 53.7 percent from the field (29-of-54). Hilliard hit five-of-six shots, while Doyle made four-of-five attempts. Freshman guard Zeriq Lolar (Orlando, Fla.) was two-for-two from the floor, including one-for-one from three-point land. In Wingate's 74-60 victory at Mars Hill on Dec. 6, the Bulldogs made 54.3 percent of their shot attempts (25-of-46).
 
Wingate posted decisive victories in four-of-five specialty statistics categories Saturday. The Bulldog bench outscored the Lion reserves 43-25. Wingate posted 36 points in the paint, compared to 10 for Mars Hill. The Bulldogs had 32 points off 22 Lion turnovers (MHU scored 12 points on 15 WU mistakes), while converting 16 fast-break points. Mars Hill had two fast-break points.
 
Wingate hosts Newberry Wednesday night (8 p.m.) to conclude a two-game home stand. The Mars Hill contest started a five-home-games-in-six-dates stretch for Wingate. The MHU Lions continue their road swing Wednesday, visiting local rival Brevard for a 8 p.m. contest.