Wingate, N.C.----The Augusta University Jaguars erased a 15-point first-half deficit Thursday afternoon, collecting a 70-61 victory over Wingate University in NCAA Division II men's basketball action at Cuddy Arena. Augusta improves to 5-4 overall, while the Bulldogs fall to 7-3 on the year.

Keshun Sherrill had 26 points to lead the Augusta attack, going seven-for-14 from the field and eight-of-10 at the free throw line, knocking down four-of-five shots from three-point range. Keith Crump added 15 points, while Tamyrik Fields contributed 12 points and five rebounds. Tommy Williams added nine points and nine boards for the Jaguars.

Junior forward Isiah Cureton (Waxhaw, N.C.) had 11 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks to lead the Wingate attack. Freshman Mike Baez (Huntersville, N.C.) and sophomore Zeriq Lolar (Orlando, Fla.) added nine points each, while senior Xavier Griffin (Marshville, N.C.) had eight points for the Bulldogs.

Triples from Lolar and Cureton gave Wingate a 10-4 lead six minutes into the opening half. A triple and a layup from Lolar pushed the lead to nine, while a 6-0 run made it 25-12 at the 7:23 mark. Baez and Anthanee Doyle (Holly Springs, N.C.) knocked down threes in the flurry. A Josh Dominguez (Matthews, N.C.) bucket put the 'Dogs on top by 15, but Augusta closed the half on a 12-2 run, cutting the halftime lead to 31-26. Sherrill had six points in the flurry, while Crump added four points.

A pair of Sherrill triples gave the Jaguars the lead three minutes into the second half. Wingate jumped back on top with a Doyle free throw, but another Sherrill three put the Jaguars back on top. Free throws from Crump and Sherrill put Augusta on top 45-41 with 9:21 remaining in the game.

Field buried a jumper to push the lead to five at the 7:34 mark, but a Cureton bucket and two Keith Griffin (Concord, N.C.) free throws got the 'Dogs within one. Crump answered with a triple, while two Tommy Williams free throws made it 57-52 with five minutes left. A Deane Williams jumper and two Crump free throws pushed the lead to eight with 3:51 to go. Wingate would get no closer than six the rest of the way.

Augusta shot 40.7 percent from the field, hitting five-of-13 shots from three-point range (38.5 percent). Wingate shot 32.3 percent, hitting six-of-23 from beyond the arc (26.1 percent). The 'Dogs held a 46-38 rebounding advantage, holding an 11-9 edge in second chance points. Each team committed 14 turnovers, with Wingate collecting 14 points off turnovers compared to Augusta's 12.

The Bulldogs are back in action Saturday, traveling to Johnson C. Smith for a 4 p.m. start.