Men's Basketball | 2/16/2016 2:39:00 PM

Hartsville, S.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs are back on the road Wednesday night, traveling to Coker College to face the Cobras at 8 p.m. in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action. Wingate is 17-7 overall and 13-5 in the SAC, while the Cobras enter the contest 8-14 overall and 4-14 in the conference.

Wingate is alone in third place in the league standings with four games remaining. The 'Dogs trail fourth-ranked Lincoln Memorial, who is a perfect 18-0 in the SAC and seventh-ranked Queens, who is 16-2 in league play. At 13-5, the 'Dogs are two games clear of fourth-place Lenoir-Rhyne (11-7 SAC).

The Bulldogs and Cobras met in Cuddy Arena in January, with the Bulldogs prevailing 69-63. Wingate led 34-13 at halftime and led by as many as 28 in the second half before Coker rallied back, cutting the lead to three in the final minutes. Junior forward Josh Dominguez (Matthews, N.C.) had 21 points to lead the Bulldogs, adding seven rebounds and three assists. Classmate Isiah Cureton (Waxhaw, N.C.) added 20 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, four steals and four blocks, while junior Keith Griffin (Concord, N.C.) contributed 13 points, nine boards and two blocks. The 'Dogs shot 54.8 percent from the field, while holding Coker to 29.7 percent shooting, including 17.2 percent in the first half.

The Bulldogs lead the SAC and rank eighth nationally in blocked shots per game (5.1) while also leading the conference in scoring defense, ranking second in the league in field goal percentage defense and defensive rebounding.

Wingate has won two of its last three entering Wednesday night, with both wins coming by over 20 points. The 'Dogs picked up an 81-57 victory Saturday against Brevard. Wingate knocked down a season-high 14 threes and led by as many as 31 in the second half. Dominguez had 18 points, hitting six-of-eight shots from three-point range while junior Anthanee Doyle (Holly Springs, N.C.) and sophomore Zeriq Lolar (Orlando, Fla.) contributed 11 points apiece for the Bulldogs.

Wingate's balanced attack is led by Cureton's 14.5 points per game. He shoots 48 percent from the field and 82 percent at the free throw line while leading the team in steals and ranking second in blocks and rebounds and third in assists. Freshman Mike Baez (Huntersville, N.C.) contributes 11.8 points per contest, adding 5.8 rebounds per game while ranking second on the Bulldogs with 40 triples.

Doyle has knocked down a team-best 49 threes on the season, averaging 10.8 points per game while ranking second on the team in steals. Senior Xavier Griffin (Marshville, N.C.) contributes 9.4 points per game, handing out a team-best 3.1 assists per contest. Lolar has connected on 31 threes this season, scoring 8.4 points per game while Dominguez is shooting 54 percent from the field and 48.8 percent from three-point range, averaging 7.6 points per contest. Keith Griffin compiles 6.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, leading the conference with 1.7 blocks per game.

The Cobras enter the contest fighting to earn a spot in the SAC Tournament. At 4-14 in the league standings, the Cobras are two games behind eighth-place Tusculum (6-12) for the final spot in the conference tournament with four games remaining. After dropping six in a row, Coker has won two of its last three, defeating Anderson and Tusculum the past two Saturdays. Donte Samuels had 23 points in victory at Tusculum, while Aubrey Daniel added 16 points for the Cobras. Samuels leads the team with 15.8 points per contest, adding 5.6 rebounds per game. Trey Marshall and Daniel contribute 10.5 and 10.3 points per game, respectively.

After Wednesday's contest, the 'Dogs play their final regular season road game on Saturday, traveling to Carson-Newman at 4 p.m. Wingate wraps up the regular season with two home games next week, hosting Catawba next Wednesday and Anderson the following Saturday.