Gaffney, S.C.----The Limestone College Saints outscored visiting Wingate University 54-39 in the second half Friday night, shooting 70 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes and 55 percent the night to prevail 87-74 in season-opening NCAA Division II men's basketball action. Limestone snaps a three-game losing streak against the Bulldogs, starting the season 1-0, while Wingate is 0-1 on the year.

Kenny Hairston had 22 points to lead the Limestone attack, knocking down five-of-10 shots from three-point range. T.J. Sheppard added 16 points, while Donovan Harris contributed 15 points and 15 rebounds. Montrel Goldston had 11 points, six boards and five assists for the Saints, while Jaquan Simms and Macoumba Kane contributed eight points apiece.

Junior guard Emarius Logan (Columbia, S.C.) had 16 points to lead the Wingate offense, going six-for-nine from the field while adding two rebounds and two assists. Junior guard Marco Haskins (Fredericksburg, Va.) had 15 points and seven rebounds, while senior forward Devarius Christian (Charlotte, N.C.) contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds. Senior guard Zeriq Lolar (Orlando, Fla.) had nine points, while redshirt freshman center Quantra Taylor (Indian Land, S.C.) had eight points and four boards.

A Lolar triple gave Wingate a 10-4 lead five minutes into the opening half, but a Hairston triple put the Saints on top by one at the 11:08 mark. A Christian jumper and Logan triple put the 'Dogs back on top by three, but a Hairston jumper gave Limestone a 31-30 advantage with 1:20 left in the half. Junior forward Neico Robinson (Easley, S.C.) knocked down three free throws in the final second to give Wingate a 35-33 halftime lead.

A Kane three and Sheppard bucket gave the Saints an early five-point lead in the second half, but a Christian triple got Wingate back within a point with 16 minutes left. A Sheppard jumper with 13 minutes to go pushed the lead back to five, but a three-point play from Haskins got the 'Dogs back within two points. Limestone countered with an 11-3 run, taking a 68-58 advantage on a Hairston triple with 8:46 to go.

Hairston's three at the 6:50 mark put the Saints on top by 13, but buckets from Christian and Kerrigan Farley (Hickory, N.C.) got Wingate back within eight points. Goldston's bucket at the 4:29 mark put Limestone on top 77-65 and the Bulldogs got no closer than eight the rest of the way.

Limestone shot 55.4 percent on the night, hitting eight-of-21 shots from three-point range (38 percent). Wingate shot 45.9 percent from the field, knocking down six-of-16 shots from beyond the arc (37.5 percent). The Saints held a 40-35 rebounding advantage, with the 'Dogs holding a 16-11 edge in second-chance points. Limestone outscored Wingate 46-30 in the paint while assisting on 16 of 36 buckets compared to just five assists for the Bulldogs on 28 field goals.

Wingate is back in action Saturday, taking on Belmont Abbey at 5:30 p.m.