Men's Basketball | 12/13/2016 1:55:00 PM

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs return to action after eight days off Wednesday night, hosting 23rd-ranked Lincoln Memorial University in a rematch of the 2016 South Atlantic Conference Tournament championship game. The Bulldogs and Railsplitters are set for an 8 p.m. tip Wednesday in Cuddy Arena on ESPN3. Wingate is 3-6 overall and 1-3 in the SAC, while LMU is 7-2 overall and 3-1 in the conference.

The Bulldogs snapped a three-game losing streak last Monday, prevailing 68-64 against Lander. Sophomore guard Mike Baez (Orlando, Fla.) and senior forward Josh Dominguez (Matthews, N.C.) combined for 41 points, with Baez scoring all 22 of his points in the second half, adding 15 rebounds while going six-of-12 from the field and seven-of-eight at the free throw line. Dominguez had 19 points, four assists and three rebounds, going eight-for-12 from the field.

Wingate's three-game losing streak saw the 'Dogs suffer tough setbacks at Augusta, Newberry and Mars Hill, losing the three contests by a combined nine points. The losses at Newberry and Mars Hill saw both opponents hit game-winning threes in the final seconds. Dominguez had 18 points at Augusta, while Baez piled up 26 points and 13 rebounds at Newberry. Keith Griffin (Concord, N.C.) added 24 points and 15 boards, while Zeriq Lolar (Orlando, Fla.) contributed 20 points and 14 rebounds. Dominguez and Griffin had 19 points apiece in the Mars Hill loss, with Anthanee Doyle (Holly Springs, N.C.) adding 17 points.

The offense has been good for the Bulldogs, averaging 80.2 points per game, the highest since the 2007-08 season. Six different Bulldogs are scoring over 9.0 points per game, with Wingate shooting 46 percent from the field. The 'Dogs are allowing 82.3 points per game, the highest in the Brian Good era. The 'Dogs have not allowed over 73 points per game since the 2009-2010 season. Opponents are shooting 41.4 percent from three-point range against the Bulldogs this year, the highest in the SAC, while teams are knocking down 10.1 threes per contest against Wingate.

Wingate and LMU met three times last season, with the Railsplitters rolling to victories in the first two contests en route to a 22-0 SAC regular season. Lincoln Memorial would go on to win 95-83 in the SAC title game, with Isiah Cureton (Waxhaw, N.C.) leading the 'Dogs with 22 points. Griffin and Baez contributed 15 points apiece. The Railsplitters went on to host the NCAA Southeast Regionals, winning their first-ever regional title and advancing to the national title game. LMU has won four consecutive SAC titles.

LMU saw its 29-game SAC winning streak come to an end at Carson-Newman this season. The other setback came against fifth-ranked Alabama-Huntsville. Lincoln Memorial has responded by winning each of its last four games by at least 41 points, capped by last week's 100-50 victory over Brevard. The Railsplitters are ranked fourth in the nation in scoring margin with an average margin of victory of 23.9 points per game. The Railsplitters are ranked second in the country in field goal percentage (53.8 percent), while ranking sixth in field goal percentage defense (37.5 percent). LMU is third nationally with 6.7 blocks per contest.

Lincoln Memorial leads the all-time series against Wingate 18-9, winning each of the last eight meetings. The last Bulldog victory came in the 2013 SAC title game.

Lolar is scoring 14.0 points per game for the Bulldogs, adding 5.7 rebounds per contest, shooting 35.6 percent from three-point range while knocking down a team-best 16 triples. Dominguez averages 13.8 points per contest, shooting 54.4 percent from the field and 43.5 percent from beyond the arc while handing out a team-best 24 assists. Baez contributes 13.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, scoring in double figures each of the last six games, registering over 20 points in three of those contests.

Griffin is averaging 12.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, shooting 59.5 percent from the field while piling up 19 blocked shots. He ranks second in the SAC in blocked shots, sixth in rebounding and eighth in field goal percentage. Doyle is averaging 9.8 points per game, ranking second on the team with 13 threes on the year.

LMU has five players averaging double figures on the year, led by Luquon Choice, contributing 16.8 points per game, knocking down a SAC-best 35 threes on the year while ranking third in three-point field goal percentage (53.8 percent). Chris Perry averages 14.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, shooting 64.3 percent from the field. Emanuel Terry shoots 66.7 percent from the field, averaging 12.0 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, leading the league with 2.4 blocks per contest. Dorian Pinson contributes 10.3 points and 5.2 assists per game.

The Bulldogs, who are 2-0 in Cuddy Arena this season, have another home contest Saturday, hosting Brevard at 4 p.m.