Harrogate, Tenn.----Lincoln Memorial University redshirt senior guard Luquon Choice (Laurens, S.C.) had a game-high 36 points to lead the number 21 Railsplitters to a 97-87 South Atlantic Conference men's basketball victory over Wingate University in Tex Turner Arena Saturday afternoon. The hard-fought contest featured eight ties and eight lead changes before LMU pulled away in the waning moments.
 
Wingate sees its 11-game winning streak end Saturday as the Bulldogs fall to 14-8 overall and 11-5 in the SAC. Lincoln Memorial is 18-4 overall and 13-3 in the league. The WU Bulldogs host number seven Queens University of Charlotte Wednesday at 8 p.m. Wingate handed the Royals their first loss of the season on Jan. 18. LMU returns home to host local rival Tusculum College the same day and the same time.
 
Choice's scoring outburst only slightly overshadowed the efforts of Wingate senior guard Josh Dominguez (Matthews, N.C.), who exploded for a career-high 34 points. The Metrolina Christian Academy graduate hit eight-of-14 field goals, six-of-nine three-point field goals and 12-of-14 free throws. He has 100 points in his last four games. WU sophomore guard Mike Baez (Orlando, Fla.) had 18 points and eight rebounds, while senior forward Isiah Cureton (Waxhaw, N.C.) added 10 points and six boards.
 
Choice scored 31 of his 36 points after intermission; however, by no means was Choice a one-man show. LMU redshirt freshman guard Cornelius Taylor (Claxton, Ga.) had 21 points. Senior forward Chris Perry (Bartow, Fla.) posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while junior forward Emanuel Terry (Enterprise, Ala.) narrowly missed a double-double of his own with 13 points and nine boards.
 
Wingate got off the bus shooting lights out, bolting to a 17-7 lead on an inside jumper by Dominguez with 14:53 left in the first half. The 10-point margin was the Bulldogs' largest lead of the afternoon. Lincoln Memorial responded with a 24-9 run over the next the eight minutes.
 
The flurry ended on a Taylor three-point field goal at the 5:28 mark, making the score 31-26 Railsplitters. Lincoln Memorial led 43-40 at intermission. Taylor topped the first-half scoring charts for the hosts with his 15 points. Dominguez led the 'Dogs with 16 markers, while Baez added seven points.
 
LMU started the second half with a Choice three-point field goal (19:34) and a Taylor fast-break lay-up (18:54) to stretch its lead to 48-40. A Perry lay-up (on a Choice assist) made the score 58-49 at the 13:09 mark. The nine-point bulge was the Railsplitters' largest advantage until the closing seconds.
 
The Bulldogs did not fold the tents. Wingate senior forward and Academic All-America® candidate Keith Griffin (Concord, N.C.) converted a follow shot to tie the score 72-72 with 5:39 to play. Dominguez drained two foul shots with 5:07 left, concluding an 11-0 run which turned a 72-63 deficit into a 74-72 advantage. Dominguez had seven points (four free throws, one three-point field goal) during the spurt.
 
Perry hit two free throws (4:36) and Choice drained a jumper (4:01) to help the hosts regain a 76-74 lead. Wingate senior guard Anthanee Doyle (Holly Springs, N.C.) converted two charity tosses on the next trip down the floor (3:44) to tie the game for the final time at 76-76. Fittingly, Choice cashed in on an old-fashioned three-point play to give LMU the lead for good at 79-76 with 3:33 remaining in the contest. Choice followed with two three-point jumpers (3:00, 2:19) to stretch the margin to 85-78. The Bulldogs would get no closer than five points down the stretch.
 
The fans in attendance got to see offensive fireworks. Lincoln Memorial hit 10 three-point field goals, while Wingate drained nine triples. The LMU Railsplitters shot 50 percent from the floor (35-of-70), while the WU Bulldogs converted 45.5 percent of their field goal attempts (45.5 percent). LMU outscored Wingate 44-32 in the paint, while scoring 19 points off 13 Bulldog turnovers. The visitors prevailed in second-chance points (15-12) and bench points (18-15).