Men's Basketball | 1/20/2017 1:08:00 PM

VIDEO: Brian Good Interview

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs look for an eighth straight victory Saturday afternoon, hosting Mars Hill University at 4 p.m. on ESPN3. Wingate is 10-7 overall and 7-4 in the SAC entering this weekend's contest. The Lions are 4-13 overall and 2-9 in the conference. The Bulldogs have moved into a tie for fourth in league standings after winning six consecutive league contests.

"Mars Hill plays with as much energy and effort as anyone in the league," head coach Brian Good says. "Coach Finora has them sharing the ball and playing together. They come at you at both ends. We must be ready to play, hopefully something we learned at their place in December."

Wingate's seventh consecutive victory came Wednesday night, handing third-ranked Queens University its first loss of the season in Charlotte. The Bulldogs had six players score nine points or more, led by sophomore guard Mike Baez (Orlando, Fla.) with 17 points, hitting four-of-six shots from three-point range. Senior forward Isiah Cureton (Waxhaw, N.C.) had 12 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, while senior guard Anthanee Doyle (Holly Springs, N.C.) also had 12 points, hitting six-of-six shots at the free throw line. Junior guard Zeriq Lolar (Orlando, Fla.) contributed 11 points and five boards, while senior center Keith Griffin (Concord, N.C.) had 10 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.

Queens entered the contest averaging 89.6 points per game, shooting 50.7 percent from the field. The Bulldogs held the Royals to just 64 points, 11 points fewer than any other contest this season. Queens shot 42.6 percent from the field Wednesday night, the second-lowest percentage of the year.

Wingate's seven-game winning streak started before Christmas, a 22-point victory over Brevard. The 'Dogs rolled to an 84-61 win at Mount Olive on New Year's Eve, followed by a 99-84 victory at Coker. Wingate prevailed 79-77 at Carson-Newman, while downing Catawba 97-82 in Cuddy Arena. That was followed by a 76-70 victory over Anderson last Saturday.

During the seven-game winning streak, Wingate is averaging 83.4 points per game, allowing just 70.6 points per contest. The 'Dogs are shooting 46 percent from the field and 37 percent from three-point range, while holding opponents to 39 percent shooting from the field. The Bulldogs are out-rebounding opponents by 10 boards per game while shooting 79 percent from the free throw line.

Baez is scoring 19.7 points per game during the winning streak, shooting 57 percent from the field and 43 percent from three-point range. Doyle, Cureton and Josh Dominguez (Matthews, N.C.) are averaging 11.9, 11.3 and 11.1 points per game during the streak, with Doyle knocking down 15 triples and shooting 90 percent from the free throw line. Cureton adds 8.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per contest, while Dominguez is collecting 4.4 boards per game. Griffin has contributed 10.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, piling up 20 blocked shots in the seven contests.

The Wingate offense is averaging 81.1 points per game on the year, the highest since the 2007-08 season. Wingate has scored over 90 points four times this year, after reaching the 90-point mark just three times last season. The 'Dogs lead the league in free throw percentage (74.5 percent). Six different Bulldogs are scoring over 11 points per game, with Wingate shooting 44.9 percent from the field. The 'Dogs are the only team in the SAC with six players averaging double figures on the season.

The Bulldogs are third in the league in scoring defense and field goal percentage defense, allowing 77.6 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 39.2 percent from three-point range against the Bulldogs this year, the highest in the SAC, while teams are knocking down 8.8 threes per contest against Wingate. Of the seven losses for the Bulldogs this season, five of the setbacks have come by a combined 15 points.

The Bulldogs and Lions met in December, with Mars Hill rallying for a 90-88 victory. Wingate led the contest for over 38 minutes, but the Lions got a three from Bennett Wilson in the final seconds to get the win. Four Bulldogs scored over 15 points in the game, led by Dominguez and Griffin with 19 points each. Doyle had 17 points, while Lolar added 16 points. Wingate had won 11 in a row against Mars Hill before the December setback.

Baez leads the Bulldogs and ranks eighth in the SAC with 16.5 points per game, knocking down 31 triples while adding 6.5 rebounds per game. He has scored in double figures each of the last 14 games, scoring 20 or more points eight times, including six of the last nine. Lolar, Cureton and Dominguez follow with 12.2, 12.1 and 12.0 points per game, respectively. Lolar has hit 26 threes, collecting 5.1 rebounds per game while handing out a team-best 41 assists. Cureton leads the 'Dogs with 8.3 rebounds per contest, while Dominguez shoots 46 percent from the field and ranks second on the team with 37 assists.

Griffin averages 11.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, shooting 58 percent from the field while leading the SAC with 2.5 blocks per contest. Doyle averages 11.1 points per game, knocking down a team-best 32 triples on 35 percent shooting while handing out 35 assists and collecting a team-best 20 steals.

The Lions are coming off an 82-68 victory over Brevard Wednesday night, snapping a 10-game losing streak. Vernon Jackson leads the MHU offense with 11.9 points per game, adding 4.9 rebounds per contest. Wilson averages 11.1 points and 2.3 assists per game, while Valentin Bauer contributes 8.7 points and 5.8 assists per contest. Mars Hill ranks 11th in the SAC in scoring offense and ninth in scoring defense.

Wingate hits the road Wednesday night, traveling to Lenoir-Rhyne for an 8 p.m. start. That is followed by back-to-back home games, starting Jan. 28 with the Bulldogs hosting Tusculum. Wingate hosts Newberry Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 8 p.m.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
Wingate University, consistently ranked as a top 10 "best value" in the South by U.S. News & World Report, serves more than 3,200 students on three campuses in Wingate, Charlotte and Hendersonville, N.C. Founded in 1896, the University offers 35 undergraduate majors, 35 minors, 12 career concentrations, nine pre-professional programs, master's degrees in accounting, business, education, physician assistant studies and sport management and doctorates in education, pharmacy and physical therapy.
 
With a 14 to 1 student/teacher ratio, Wingate students gain the tools and support needed to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. To view current news, video and story ideas, visit www.youtube.com/wingateuniversity. 
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past 10 years. For more information, go to www.wingate.edu.
 
Wingate is first among NCAA Division II Academic All-America®-producing colleges in the 2000's with 88 selections. Among North Carolina's colleges and universities, Wingate is number one in this millennium with 88 Academic All-America® honorees. Wingate is tops among all SAC schools with 97 lifetime Academic All-America® picks. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com.