Wingate, N.C.----Four different Bulldogs scored in double figures Wednesday night as Wingate University downed visiting Coker College 68-52 in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action in Cuddy Arena. The Bulldogs move to 15-10 overall and 12-7 in the SAC. With Wingate's win, along with losses from Carson-Newman and Queens, the 'Dogs are now alone in second place in the league standings with three games remaining. Coker falls to 10-13 overall and 9-10 in the conference.

Redshirt sophomore forward Terrill Hilliard (Rocky Mount, N.C.) led the Wingate attack with 15 points, going five-of-six from the field, including three-of-four shooting from beyond the arc, adding five rebounds. Senior guard Ryan Daye (Burlington, N.C.) had 14 points and four assists, going eight-for-eight at the free throw line. Sophomore center Keith Griffin (Concord, N.C.) and freshman guard Zeriq Lolar (Orlando, Fla.) contributed 12 points apiece.

Errick Bethel had 12 points to lead the Coker attack, adding six assists. The league's leading scorer went just four-of-16 from the field Wednesday night after being held to a season-low five points in the first meeting against Wingate last month. Aubrey Daniel added seven points and five boards for the Cobras, while Trey Marshall, Alex Cohen and Donte Samuel contributed six points apiece for Coker.

Wingate came out cold, scoring just one point in the first six minutes of the game, with the Cobras taking a 7-1 lead on a Bethel triple. The Bulldogs scored the next seven points, taking a one-point lead on a Lolar layup and Griffin free throw at the 12:59 mark. A Hilliard three, followed by a free throw from sophomore Isiah Cureton (Waxhaw, N.C.) put the 'Dogs on top 20-15 with 6:25 to go in the half. A Bethel three trimmed the lead to two, but a Xavier Griffin (Marshville, N.C.) layup and two Daye free throws pushed the advantage to six. A Lolar layup gave the 'Dogs a seven-point edge in the final minute, but a Bethel jumper cut the Wingate advantage to five at 27-22 heading to intermission.

A Lolar three and Keith Griffin layup put the Bulldogs on top by 10 five minutes into the second half. A Jalen Watson bucket cut the lead to eight, but A Keith Griffin bucket and Anthanee Doyle (Holly Springs, N.C.) triple made it 41-29. Cohen knocked down a three to get Coker back within eight at 45-37, but free throws from Daye and Cureton pushed the advantage back to 12 at the 9:12 mark. Daniel knocked down a three with 6:34 remaining to trim the Wingate lead to eight at 51-43.

The Bulldogs used a 9-0 run spanning just over a minute to push the advantage to 18. Hilliard started the spurt with a three and a dunk, while a Lolar layup and Hilliard layup capped the flurry, making it 64-46 with 3:56 remaining. Freshman guard Bryan Rouse (Greensboro, N.C.) converted a layup at the 1:55 mark to put the 'Dogs on top by 20.

The Bulldogs shot 51.3 percent from the field, including 57.1 percent shooting in the second half. Wingate went five-for-10 from three-point range (50 percent) and 23-of-29 at the free throw line (79.3 percent). Coker shot just 33.9 percent from the field on the night, connecting on six-of-21 shots from beyond the arc (28.6 percent). The Cobras outrebounded Wingate 36-32, holding a 13-5 advantage in second chance points. The Bulldogs converted 12 Coker turnovers into 15 points, while holding the Cobras to just two points off turnovers on the night. Wingate also held a 14-7 edge in fast-break points.

Wingate is back in action Saturday, traveling to Lincoln Memorial to take on the fifth-ranked Railsplitters at 4 p.m.