Men's Basketball | 1/29/2016 10:58:00 AM

Greeneville, Tenn.----The Wingate University Bulldogs hit the road for back-to-back SAC contests, starting Saturday with a 4 p.m. game at Tusculum College. Wingate has won seven straight overall and eight consecutive league games, entering Saturday's contest at 14-4 overall and 10-2 in the SAC. The Pioneers are 9-9 overall and 5-8 in the conference.

Wingate's eighth straight SAC victory came Wednesday night, an 81-79 victory over Lenoir-Rhyne. The Bulldogs built an 18-point lead early in the second half, but the Bears rallied back to take the lead late in the contest before Wingate responded to notch the two-point win. During the seven-game winning streak, the Bulldogs have a one-point win and two victories by two points, while five of the wins have been single-digit victories.

Junior Isiah Cureton (Waxhaw, N.C.) led the Bulldogs with a career-high 28 points Wednesday, adding 10 rebounds to secure his third double-double of the season. He went eight-for-12 from the field, hitting three-of-four shots from beyond the arc while also adding a block and a steal. Junior guard Anthanee Doyle (Holly Springs, N.C.) contributed 15 points, while junior center Keith Griffin (Concord, N.C.) piled up 12 points, six blocks and five rebounds. Wingate shot 50 percent from the field, while holding the nation's fourth-best offense 14 points below their season average.

The Bulldogs lead the SAC in field goal percentage defense, scoring defense and blocked shots, ranking second in defensive rebounding. Wingate ranks in the top 20 nationally in blocked shots and defensive rebounding. During the current seven-game winning streak, the Bulldogs have faced the top two field goal percentage teams in the nation. Queens is second in the nation at 52.3 percent, but shot only 40 percent against Wingate. Carson-Newman leads the nation at 52.3 percent, but the 'Dogs held the Eagles to 38 percent shooting, holding Carson-Newman to 48 points, its lowest point total in five years. Wingate is 13-1 this season when scoring over 65 points.

The Bulldogs and Pioneers met earlier this month, with Wingate prevailing 94-86 in Cuddy Arena. It was the third victory in the current winning streak. Junior forward Josh Dominguez (Matthews, N.C.) led five Bulldogs in double figures with 19 points, going 10-of-12 at the free throw line while adding six rebounds. Senior guard Xavier Griffin (Marshville, N.C.) added 18 points, six assists and five rebounds, while Cureton contributed 13 points, eight boards and two steals. Sophomore Zeriq Lolar (Orlando, Fla.) scored 12 points, while Doyle had 11 points for the Bulldogs. Javon Price and Darius Carter led the Pioneers with 18 points apiece. Wingate has won 10 straight against the Pioneers. Tusculum's last win came in January of 2011. The 'Dogs have not lost in Greeneville since the 2009-10 season. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 26-12.

Wingate's balanced attack has six players averaging over 7.0 points per game this season, led by Cureton's 15.4 points per game. He shoots 50 percent from the field and 80 percent at the free throw line, leading the team in steals while ranking second in blocks and assists and third in rebounding. Doyle ranks second on the team with 11.8 points per contest, knocking down a team-best 39 triples while shooting 39.4 percent from beyond the arc.

Freshman Mike Baez (Huntersville, N.C.) contributes 11.1 points per game, leading the 'Dogs with 5.9 rebounds per contest while knocking down 27 threes on the season. Xavier Griffin scores 9.7 points per game, leading the Bulldogs with 3.4 assists per contest. Lolar has knocked down 20 triples on the season, contributing 7.8 points per game while Dominguez shoots 54.4 percent from the field, scoring 7.3 points per contest. Keith Griffin is the league-leader with 1.7 blocks per game, adding 6.4 points and 5.9 boards per game, shooting 60.8 percent from the field. He has at least one block in each of his last 10 games, piling up 26 blocks his last nine contests.

Tusculum enters Saturday's contest riding a two-game winning streak. The Pioneers beat Catawba 81-75 Monday night, while notching a 78-77 victory at Brevard Wednesday. Carter leads the Tusculum attack with 17.7 points per game, adding 3.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per contest. Chase Mounce contributes 12.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per contests, while Price averages 10.7 points per game.

After Saturday's game, the Bulldogs are back on the road Wednesday night, traveling to Newberry for an 8 p.m. start. Wingate returns home next Saturday, hosting No. 7 Lincoln Memorial at 4 p.m. The Bulldogs host Mars Hill Monday, Feb. 8 at 8 p.m. in a make-up game after last weekend's contest was postponed due to snow.