Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University redshirt senior guard Kerigan Farley (Hickory, N.C.) scored seven of the final eight points for the Bulldogs Wednesday night as the 'Dogs held off UNC Pembroke 71-68 in NCAA Division II basketball action in Cuddy Arena. Wingate improves to 2-1 on the year, while the Braves fall to 2-1 overall.

Junior forward Neico Robinson (Easley, S.C.) led the Bulldogs with a career-high 18 points, adding four rebounds, three blocks and two steals while going seven-of-11 from the field. Farley had 14 points, five assists and three steals, hitting 10-of-12 shots at the free throw line, while junior guard Marco Haskins (Fredericksburg, Va.) contributed 13 points and seven rebounds. Junior guard Emarius Logan (Columbia, S.C.) had 10 points and four assists.

"First and foremost, I thought our crowd was a huge factor," head coach Brian Good says. "Big thanks to our students for coming out tonight and supporting us. I thought our defense in the first half probably carried us all the way through. If it wasn't for giving up offensive rebounds and live-ball turnovers, we really shut them down in the first half. I thought Kerigan made big plays for us down the stretch, and Neico's effort and energy off the bench was a real boost."  

Akia Pruitt had 18 points to lead the UNCP offense, adding eight rebounds and three blocks. Nigel Grant had 14 points and four boards, while Brandon Watts contributed 11 points, eight rebounds, three blocks, three assists and two steals.

Both teams came out cold, with a Farley layup nine minutes into the opening half gave Wingate a 9-6 lead. A Robinson triple made it 15-10, but a triple from Tyrell Kirk capped a 7-0 run that gave UNCP a 17-15 advantage. A Robinson layup and Quantra Taylor (Indian Land, S.C.) dunk put the 'Dogs back on top, while two Robinson free throws made it 25-22 at the 2:42 mark. Free throws from Haskins and Devarious Christian (Charlotte, N.C.) extended the lead to five, while a Haskins triple and two Farley free throws gave Wingate a 34-27 halftime advantage.

A Logan layup gave the 'Dogs an eight-point lead early in the second half, but a pair of Pruitt buckets got the Braves within one. A Grant layup at the midway point of the second half gave UNC Pembroke a 43-42 lead. The Bulldogs countered with a 9-1 run, with a Robinson three-point play giving Wingate a 51-44 advantage. Threes from Haskins and Zeriq Lolar (Orlando, Fla.) gave the Bulldogs their largest lead of the night at 63-52 with five minutes to go.

The Braves responded with a 12-2 run, with a Watts bucket getting UNC Pembroke within a point on a Watts layup with 1:41 remaining. Farley knocked down two free throws, but another Watts bucket trimmed the lead back to one. A Farley layup at the end of the shot clock with 35 seconds left made it 69-66. David Strother hit a pair of free throws with nine seconds left to make it a one-point game.

Farley knocked down one free throw with eight seconds left, giving UNCP the ball back down by two, but Farley's steal gave the ball back to the Bulldogs, and Logan knocked down a free throw with two seconds left to make it 71-68. A desperation three at the buzzer was off the mark for UNCP.

The Bulldogs shot 40 percent from the field, hitting six-of-16 shots from beyond the arc (37.5 percent). UNCP shot 44.8 percent from the field, connecting on just one-of-eight shots from three-point range (12.5 percent). The Braves held a 38-29 rebounding advantage, with a 40-26 edge in points in the paint. Wingate converted 18 UNCP turnovers into 20 points, while the Bulldog bench outscored the Braves 34-12.

The Bulldogs are back in action Saturday, traveling to Fayetteville State for a 2 p.m. start.