Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University juniors
Josh Dominguez (Matthews, N.C.) and
Isiah Cureton (Waxhaw, N.C.) combined for 41 points and 17 rebounds, leading the Bulldogs to a 69-63 victory over visiting Coker College in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action in Cuddy Arena. Wingate improves to 8-4 overall and 4-2 in the SAC, while Cobras fall to 5-6 overall and 1-6 in the conference.
Dominguez was seven-of-10 from the field, compiling 21 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Cureton had 20 points on seven-of-10 shooting, hitting four-of-five from beyond the arc while collecting four assists, four steals and four blocks. Junior center
Keith Griffin (Concord, N.C.) had 13 points and nine rebounds, while junior
Anthanee Doyle (Holly Springs, N.C.) had eight points, three rebounds and three assists.
Donte Samuels scored all 23 of his points in the second half, adding six rebounds.
Jake Barrett had 15 points and seven rebounds, while
Jalal Abdul-Azeez collected 11 points and four steals.
Wingate jumped out to a 6-0 lead, getting four quick points from Dominguez. A three from Abdul-Azeez put Coker on top 10-8 at the 12:34 mark. The Bulldogs scored the next nine points, getting four points from Mike Baez (Huntersville, N.C.) to go on top 17-10.
Wingate answered with a 17-0 run to close the half. Dominguez started it with a three-point play and a layup, while a pair of Cureton triples pushed the lead to 18. A Dominguez bucket at the buzzer gave the Bulldogs a 34-13 halftime lead.
Wingate opened the second half on an 11-4 run to push the lead to 28. Cureton had a three in the flurry, while a Doyle layup at the 16:19 mark made it 45-17. Coker began chipping away, cutting the lead to 17 on a pair of Barrett free throws with 12:10 remaining. Two Cureton free throws put the 'Dogs on top 53-37, but an 8-0 run got the Cobras within eight. Abdul-Azeez trimmed the lead to 53-45 at the 7:25 mark.
A Cureton triple and Griffin dunk pushed the Wingate advantage back to 12, but a jumper and three from Samuels made it 61-55 with 3:04 to go. An
Aubrey Daniel layup and Samuels layup got Coker within three at the 1:22 mark, but Doyle responded with a three to make it 66-60. Barrett answered with a triple to trim the lead to three, but three Doyle free throws gave the 'Dogs a 69-63 advantage.
Wingate shot 54.8 percent from the field, hitting five-of-12 shots from three-point range (41.7 percent). Coker shot 29.7 percent from the field, going nine-of-25 from beyond the arc (36 percent). After outscoring Coker 34-13 in the first half, the Cobras held a 50-35 edge in the second half. Coker held a 40-38 rebounding advantage, holding a 14-5 edge in second chance points. Wingate held a 34-14 advantage in the paint and a 14-2 advantage in fast break points.
The Bulldogs are back in action Saturday, hosting Carson-Newman at 4 p.m.
