Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs held the visiting Carson-Newman Eagles to their lowest point total in almost five years, cruising to a 71-48 victory in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action Saturday afternoon in Cuddy Arena. Wingate improves to 9-4 overall and 5-2 in the SAC, while Carson-Newman falls to 7-7 overall and 3-5 in the conference.

"It was a really solid defensive effort for 40 minutes," head coach Brian Good says. "We shared the ball well and played as a team. Xavier started the defensive effort with great pressure out front, and everyone followed suit."

Carson-Newman entered the contest averaging 82.3 points per game, ranking second nationally in field goal percentage (52.2 percent). Wingate held the Eagles 34 points below their season average, while Carson-Newman shot just 38 percent from the field, its second-lowest effort of the season. The last time the Eagles scored less than 48 points was in February of 2011, in Cuddy Arena against Wingate.

Junior guard Anthanee Doyle (Holly Springs, N.C.) led Wingate with 17 points, knocking down four shots from three-point range. Junior forward Isiah Cureton (Waxhaw, N.C.) had 11 points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block, while senior Xavier Griffin (Marshville, N.C.) contributed 10 points, four rebounds and three assists. Sophomore guard Zeriq Lolar (Orlando, Fla.) had nine points, while junior Keith Griffin (Concord, N.C.) compiled six points, six rebounds and three blocks.

Sawyer Williams had 14 points and eight rebounds to lead the Carson-Newman attack. Carson Brooks added 10 points on five-of-eight shooting for the Eagles. Charles Clark had 10 points on the night, but the SAC-leader in points per game was held 11 points under his season average, going two-of-11 from the field while committing five turnovers.

Wingate used an 11-2 run to take an 11-6 lead four minutes into the opening half, getting triples from Doyle and Cureton in the flurry. Another Doyle three, along with a Xavier Griffin triple pushed the advantage to nine at 17-8. A Keith Griffin dunk and two Mike Baez (Huntersville, N.C.) free throws gave the 'Dogs a 23-10 edge at the midway point of the first half.

Three Clark free throws and a Williams bucket got the Eagles within eight, but a Baez three-point play put Wingate back on top by double figures with 7:58 to go. A Brooks layup got Carson-Newman within seven, but a jumper and two free throws from Doyle made it 32-21 at the 3:26 mark. A Josh Rogers layup in the final minute cut Carson-Newman's halftime deficit to nine at 35-26.

Doyle knocked down an early triple to push the lead 12, but a Brooks dunk and Williams jumper got the Eagles within seven with 14:53 to go. Doyle answered with another triple, while a Lolar layup put Wingate on top by 12.

The Bulldogs held a 12-point lead at the 9:30 mark, then use a 17-5 run to push the advantage to 24. Lolar started the flurry with a three and a jumper, while a layup and putback dunk from Lee McCall (Indian Land, S.C.) made it 63-42. A Cureton jumper and Xavier Griffin layup made it 69-45 with 3:45 to go. Carson-Newman got no closer than 21 the rest of the way.

Wingate shot 39.3 percent from the field, hitting eight-of-27 shots from three-point range (29.6 percent). Carson-Newman was 19-for-50 from the field (38 percent), going 0-for-12 from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs held a 37-34 rebounding advantage, holding a 19-8 edge in second-chance points, while converting 17 Carson-Newman turnovers into 17 points.

Wingate is back in action Monday, hosting Tusculum at 7 p.m.