Men's Basketball | 12/18/2015 1:21:00 PM

Brevard, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs are back on the road Saturday afternoon, looking to bounce back from Wednesday night's loss at Lincoln Memorial by traveling to Brevard College for a 4 p.m. tip. Wingate enters the weekend at 6-2 overall and 2-2 in the SAC, while the Tornados are 2-7 overall and 1-3 in the conference. This will be Wingate's fourth conference road game of the season.

The Bulldogs fell 103-57 at No. 13 Lincoln Memorial Wednesday night, the biggest setback in the Brian Good era. It was the first loss to a ranked team this year, after picking up victories against sixth-ranked Mount Olive and No. 19 UNC Pembroke. The Railsplitters shot 58.5 percent from the field Wednesday, while out-rebounding the Bulldogs 52-29. Junior Josh Dominguez (Matthews, N.C.) led Wingate with 16 points.

Wednesday's loss snapped a three-game winning streak, which included wins over UNCP, Mars Hill and Newberry. Wingate notched a 77-65 win at Mars Hill on Dec. 5, getting 20 points and 10 rebounds from junior Isiah Cureton (Waxhaw, N.C.), who hit four-of-six shots from three-point range. Senior guard Xavier Griffin (Marshville, N.C.) added 14 points, while freshman Mike Baez (Huntersville, N.C.) contributed 13 points, 13 rebounds and four assists.

Wingate pushed its winning streak to three by hanging on against Newberry last Tuesday, getting 17 points, seven assists and five rebounds from Griffin. Junior guard Anthanee Doyle (Holly Springs, N.C.) also had 17 points, knocking down three-of-six shots from beyond the arc. Sophomore guard Zeriq Lolar (Orlando, Fla.) contributed 14 points, six assists and five boards, while Baez had 13 points and 13 rebounds.

The Bulldogs rank third in the league in field goal percentage defense and three-point defense. Wingate leads the league in blocked shots, ranking fifth in rebounding margin. Wingate leads the league and ranks 31st nationally in fewest turnovers, while also ranking 13th in the nation in defensive rebounds per game.

Wingate and Brevard met twice last season, with the Tornados winning both matchups by a combined five points. The first meeting was in Brevard, with the Tornados prevailing 76-73. Brevard erased a 13-point deficit in the final seven minutes of the game in Cuddy Arena to win 79-77 on the final day of the regular season. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 13-5. Prior to last season, Wingate had won nine straight against the Tornados.

The Bulldogs have five players averaging over 8.0 points per game, with four scoring in double figures, led by Cureton's 16.7 points per contest, adding 5.6 rebounds per game while leading the team in steals and ranking second in blocks and assists. Baez contributes 13.5 points and 7.4 boards per game, ranking third in the SAC in double-doubles and 10th in rebounding.

Griffin averages 12.1 points per game, adding 3.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists per contest. Doyle is adding 10.3 points per game, ranking second on the team with 11 three pointers made. Sophomore Lee McCall (Indian Land, S.C.) averages 6.9 points and 4.3 boards per game, ranking fifth in the conference with 1.3 blocks per contest.

After losing their first five games of the year, the Tornados have won two of their last four, picking up wins at North Georgia and Coker. Brevard is coming off a 21-point loss to Lincoln Memorial. Demarcus Threatt leads the Tornados and the conference with 21.2 points per game, shooting 47 percent from the field. Miles Leathers is eighth in the league with 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, handing out a team-best 30 assists. Alex Moe contributes 12.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per contest, knocking down a team-best 15 triples.

After Saturday's game, the Bulldogs will have 11 days off before returning home to host Augusta at 2 p.m. on New Year's Eve. That starts a span where the 'Dogs will play four of five games at home, including SAC home contests against Coker, Carson-Newman and Tusculum.