Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs led by as many as 18 in the second half, then withstood a Lenoir-Rhyne rally to prevail 81-79 in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action in Cuddy Arena. Wingate wins its seventh straight overall and eighth consecutive league victory. The Bulldogs improve to 14-4 overall and 10-2 in the SAC, while the Bears fall to 12-5 overall and 7-5.

"We've shown a lot of grit and determination over this tough stretch of games," assistant coach Marcus Kirkland says. "Our league as is good as it's ever been and any win in the conference is a good one."

Junior forward Isiah Cureton (Waxhaw, N.C.) poured in a career-high 28 points, adding 10 rebounds while going eight-of-12 from the field, three-of-four from three-point range. Junior guard Anthanee Doyle (Holly Springs, N.C.) added 15 points, while junior center Keith Griffin (Concord, N.C.) contributed 12 points, six blocks and five boards. Sophomore Zeriq Lolar (Orlando, Fla.) and freshman Mike Baez (Huntersville, N.C.) chipped in with eight points each, while sophomore Kerigan Farley (Hickory, N.C.) registered five points, six assists, three boards and two steals.

Keenan Palmore had 29 points, 15 rebounds and three assists to lead the LRU attack. Will Perry added 18 points, hitting four-of-six from three-point range, while Rob Noyes contributed eight points and eight boards.

A Cureton triple put the 'Dogs on top by four at the 13:39 mark of the first half, but Billy Bales responded with a triple. Wingate answered with a 10-0 run, with a Griffin bucket at the 6:23 mark making it 27-16. A Cureton three and Lee McCall (Indian Land, S.C.) dunk pushed the lead to 13, while another Cureton bucket and Lolar triple made it 41-26 with 29 seconds left. A pair of Perry free throws in the final seconds trimmed Wingate's halftime advantage to 13 at 41-28.

A Baez bucket gave the 'Dogs an 18-point lead two minutes into the second half. The Bears had the emphatic response, scoring 15 straight points to make it a three-point game less than four minutes later. Perry had five points in the flurry, while Palmore added four. A Cureton jumper and Lolar three put the Bulldogs back on top by eight, but a pair of Perry threes tied the game at 55 with 10:38 remaining. Dunks from Cureton and Farley, followed by a Farley jumper stretched the lead back to six with nine minutes left.

Two free throws and a bucket from Griffin pushed the lead back to 10 with 7:14 to go. Another Griffin bucket, along with two Cureton free throws made it 73-61 at the five-minute mark. Threes from Perry and JacQues Chambers, along with a Palmore bucket got the Bears within two with 3:13 left. A pair of free throws from Perry gave LRU its first lead since four minutes into the opening half. Doyle answered with two free throws to give the lead back to Wingate, while two Cureton free throws made it 79-76 with 35 seconds left. Palmore responded with a layup, while a Doyle free throw put the 'Dogs on top by two with 19 seconds left. Palmore made one free throw on the other end, but another Cureton free throw made it 81-79 with six seconds left. LRU was unable to get a shot off on its final possession.

Wingate shot 50 percent from the field, hitting eight-of-20 shots from three-point range (40 percent). The Bears shot 42.5 percent from the field, hitting 11-of-25 shots from beyond the arc (44 percent). Lenoir-Rhyne held a 37-33 rebounding advantage, while Wingate held an 11-10 edge in second-chance points. Griffin had six of Wingate's eight blocked shots.

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