Mars Hill, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs used a 24-5 second half run Saturday evening en route to a 77-65 victory at Mars Hill University in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action. Wingate improves to 5-1 overall and 1-1 in the SAC, while the Lions fall to 3-4 overall and 0-2 in the conference.

Junior forward Isiah Cureton (Waxhaw, N.C.) had 20 points, 10 rebounds to lead the Wingate attack, going seven-of-12 from the field and four-of-six from three-point range. The 2014 SAC Freshman of the Year has scored at least 20 points four times this year. Senior guard Xavier Griffin (Marshville, N.C.) added 14 points, hitting 10-of-11 free throws while freshman Mike Baez (Huntersville, N.C.) contributed 13 points, 14 rebounds and four assists.

Michael Carson led the Lions with 18 points and five rebounds, going three-for-six from beyond the arc. Tyree Griffin added 15 points and six rebounds, while Brandon McCarter contributed 10 points and six boards.

A Baez tip-in five minutes into the opening half put the Bulldogs on top by four, while layups from Zeriq Lolar (Orlando, Fla.) and Xavier Griffin made it 17-7 at the midway point of the first half. Another Lolar layup, along with two Josh Dominguez (Matthews, N.C.) free throws pushed the lead to 13, but Mars Hill answered with a 10-0 run, making it 27-24 on a Justin Yeargin triple with 1:53 remaining. A dunk from redshirt freshman Neico Robinson (Easley, S.C.) at the buzzer gave the Bulldogs a 30-26 halftime advantage.

A three-point play from Xavier Griffin gave Wingate a 37-31 lead five minutes into the second half, but a 9-2 Mars Hill run gave the Lions a one-point lead, with a Jalen Witherspoon triple making it 40-39 with 12:29 left in the half.

The Bulldogs responded with a resounding 24-5 run, starting with a Cureton triple and Keith Griffin (Concord, N.C.) layup. Cureton added another triple and a layup in the flurry, while an Anthanee Doyle (Holly Springs, N.C.) jumper made it 63-45 with five minutes to go. A dunk and three from Tyree Griffin cut the lead to nine at the 3:30 mark, but two more Cureton triples made it 69-55 with 1:51 to go. Mars Hill would get no closer than 10 the rest of the way.

Wingate shot 46 percent from the field, hitting five-of-14 shots from three-point range (35.7 percent). Mars Hill shot 29.6 percent from the field, going nine-of-36 from beyond the arc (25 percent). The Bulldogs held a 51-39 rebounding advantage, but Mars Hill held a 14-4 edge in second-chance points. Wingate outscored the Lions 32-20 in the paint.

The Bulldogs are back in action Tuesday, hosting Newberry at 6 p.m.