Men's Basketball | 2/9/2016 7:14:00 PM

Charlotte, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs face off against a ranked opponent for the sixth time this season, traveling to Charlotte Wednesday night to take on the seventh-ranked Queens University Royals at 8 p.m. Wingate is 16-6 overall and 12-4 in the SAC, while the Royals enter the contest 20-2 overall and 14-2 in the conference. The 'Dogs are 3-2 against top-20 teams this season, with wins over sixth-ranked Mount Olive and No. 20 UNC Pembroke to go along with a victory over then-number-nine Queens.

The Bulldogs find themselves in third place in the league standings, behind only fourth-ranked Lincoln Memorial and No. 7 Queens. With six games remaining in the conference schedule, Wingate is three games ahead of Lenoir-Rhyne and Newberry, who are tied for fourth at 9-7 in league play. The 'Dogs are two games behind the 14-2 Royals, while LMU is a perfect 16-0 in the conference, the best start to a SAC season in men's basketball history.

One of the two losses for Queens this season came in Cuddy Arena in mid-January. The Bulldogs led by 18 in the first half and by as many as 13 in the second half before hanging on for a 71-70 victory. Freshman Mike Baez (Huntersville, N.C.) led Wingate with 16 points, adding six rebounds. Junior Anthanee Doyle (Holly Springs, N.C.) contributed 14 points, hitting four-of-seven shots from three-point range. Junior Isiah Cureton (Waxhaw, N.C.) had 13 points, five rebounds and two blocks, while classmate Keith Griffin (Concord, N.C.) added four points, 13 rebounds and three blocks. Rob Lewis led Queens with 19 points. The Royals rank fourth in the nation in field goal percentage (51.7 percent), but shot just 40 percent against the Bulldogs, scoring 16 points less than their season average. The 'Dogs have won three of their last four against Queens, sweeping the regular season series last season.

Wingate is coming off an 88-57 victory over Mars Hill Monday night. Eight different Bulldogs scored in double figures, led by junior forward Josh Dominguez (Matthews, N.C.) and sophomore Devarious Christian (Charlotte, N.C.) with 11 points each. Sophomore Lee McCall (Indian Land, S.C.) had 10 points and a career-high 14 rebounds, adding a pair of blocks. Cureton, Baez, senior Xavier Griffin (Marshville, N.C.), and sophomore Zeriq Lolar (Orlando, Fla.) contributed 10 points apiece for the Bulldogs.

Wingate leads the SAC in blocked shots, ranking second in field goal percentage defense, scoring defense and defensive rebounding. The 'Dogs ranked third in the league in rebounding margin.

Wingate's balanced attack has six players scoring over seven points per game, led by Cureton's 15.4 points per contest. He shoots 49 percent from the field and 82 percent at the free throw line, leading the team in steals while ranking second in rebounds, assists and blocks. Baez averages 11.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, ranking second on the team with 37 threes.

Doyle contributes 10.7 points per contest, knocking down a team-best 43 triples while shooting 37 percent from beyond the arc. Xavier Griffin scores 9.6 points per contest, leading the team with 3.1 assists per game. Lolar and Dominguez add 8.3 and 7.2 points per game, respectively, with Dominguez shooting 54 percent from the field. Keith Griffin leads the SAC with 1.8 blocks per contest, adding 6.1 points and a team-best 6.2 boards per game.

Lewis leads Queens and ranks fourth in the SAC with 19.1 points per game, knocking down 49 threes while shooting 38 percent from beyond the arc. Sean Morgan shoots a league-best 69.2 percent from the field, averaging 17.8 points and 5.1 boards per contest, while Daniel Camps contributes 12.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.

After Wednesday's contest, the Bulldogs return home Saturday to host Brevard at 4 p.m.