Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs knocked down 11 triples in the second half Wednesday night, outscoring visiting Newberry 45-28 in the last 20 minutes to prevail 72-67 in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action in Cuddy Arena. Wingate improves to 3-5 overall and 1-0 in the SAC, while the Wolves fall to 5-3 overall and 1-1 in league play.

Senior guard Zeriq Lolar (Orlando, Fla.) poured in a season-high 26 points to lead the Wingate attack, knocking down seven-of-14 shots from three-point range while adding six steals, three rebounds and three assists. Junior guard Marco Haskins (Fredericksburg, Va.) scored all 15 of his points in the second half, adding six rebounds and four assists, while graduate student point guard Kerigan Farley (Hickory, N.C.) had five points and a career-high 11 assists. Sophomore guard Charlie Hovasse (Colorado Springs, Colo.) had a career-high 10 points.

"It was a great team win tonight," head coach Brian Good says. "We had some terrific effort off the bench. I thought our second half defense really carried us. It was nice to see some of our guys that I know can shoot get the ball to go in the basket. I thought it was the most unselfish we've played all season and that contributed to our best half of offense."

James Stepp had 19 points to lead the Newberry offense, hitting five-of-seven shots from beyond the arc while adding six rebounds. Rob Valentine added 12 points, while D.J. Copeland and Marshall Lange contributed 10 points each.

Lolar buried three early triples and a jumper, while Farley added a three to give the 'Dogs an early 14-6 lead. The Wolves scored the next nine points, taking a 15-14 lead on a pair of Lange free throws. A Hovasse triple gave the Bulldogs a 19-18 advantage, but Newberry countered with an 18-2 run to take a 36-21 lead on a Quaman Burton bucket at the 2:50 mark. A pair of buckets from Neico Robinson (Easley, S.C.) in the final two minutes helped the 'Dogs cut the halftime deficit 12 at 39-27.

A Valentine bucket gave Newberry a 45-31 lead three minutes into the second half. Haskins, Lolar and Jeremy Williams (Salem, Va.) knocked down triples to get Wingate within six, but a Burton layup at the 12:13 mark gave the Wolves a 50-41 advantage. The Bulldogs had the emphatic response, going on a 20-0 run over the next seven minutes to take an 11-point lead. Haskins started the spurt with two threes, while a Hovasse triple put the 'Dogs on top. Lolar capped the flurry by knocking down three straight triples. Farley had five assists in the stretch.

Stepp got the Wolves within eight with a three, but a Haskins three, Robinson dunk and Williams triple made it 72-61 with 2:19 to go. Back-to-back triples from Valentine got the Wolves within five with 1:24 remaining, but they would get no closer the rest of the way.

Wingate shot 51 percent from the field on the night, shooting 63 percent in the second half while knocking down 15-of-34 shots from three-point range (44 percent). The 'Dogs knocked down 11-of-18 shots from beyond the arc in the second half (61 percent). Newbery shot 41 percent, hitting 11-of-26 shots from three-point range (42 percent). The Wolves held a 36-29 rebounding advantage and 14-8 edge in second-chance points. Wingate turned 23 Newberry turnovers into 32 points, holding a 9-4 advantage in fast break points.

The Bulldogs are back in action Saturday, hosting Mars Hill at 4 p.m.