Mars Hill, N.C.----Wingate University senior guard Zeriq Lolar (Orlando, Fla.) tied a season high with 27 points Saturday afternoon, leading the visiting Bulldogs to a 77-60 victory at Mars Hill University in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action. Wingate improves to 9-9 overall and 6-4 in the SAC, while the Lions fall to 2-16 overall and 0-11 in league play.

Lolar knocked down seven-of-13 shots from three-point range to score his game-high 27 points. Graduate student point guard Kerigan Farley (Hickory, N.C.) contributed 14 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals, while junior guard Marco Haskins (Fredericksburg, Va.) had 10 points and 10 boards. Junior forward Neico Robinson (Easley, S.C.) had eight points, four boards and two steals, while senior forward Devarious Christian (Charlotte, N.C.) had 12 rebounds to go along with four points.

Vernon Jackson had 16 points to lead the Mars Hill offense, going eight-for-12 from the field. Bennett Wilson added nine points, five boards and four assists, while Brandon Watkins had eight points and eight rebounds.

A Watkins bucket gave the Lions a 14-8 lead seven minutes into the opening half, while a three from Cody Hylton pushed the lead to nine at the 11:10 mark. Wingate countered with a 22-6 run over the next nine minutes. Lolar's three started the spurt, while back-to-back Farley layups got Wingate within four.

Robinson's bucket at the 6:04 mark made it a one-point game, while two Haskins free throws put the 'Dogs on top. A triple and layup from Lolar gave the Bulldogs a 31-23 lead with two minutes left in the half. Wilson's layup with 19 seconds left got Mars Hill within four, but Christian's layup at the buzzer gave Wingate a 35-29 halftime advantage.

A three from Luke Van-Rijn got the Lions within three in the opening minutes of the second half, but two Lolar threes pushed the lead back to seven. Watkins got Mars Hill back within five at the 12:39 mark with a jumper, but Lolar again responded with a triple.

The Bulldogs used a 15-3 run over a four-minute span to give the Bulldogs an 18-point lead at the 5:39 mark. A three from Charlie Hovasse (Colorado Springs, Colo.) gave Wingate a double-digit lead, while a Haskins three and two Emarius Logan (Columbia, S.C.) free throws made it 62-47. Another Logan free throw capped the flurry, making it 65-47. Free throws from Haskins and Jeremy Williams (Salem, Va.) in the final two minutes gave Wingate its largest lead of the day at 76-52.

The Bulldogs shot 43.8 percent from the field, hitting nine-of-26 shots from three-point range (34.6 percent). Mars Hill shot 38.2 percent from the field, connecting on six-of-24 shots from beyond the arc (25 percent). Wingate held a 47-38 rebounding advantage and 20-16 edge in second-chance points. The Bulldogs converted 14 MHU turnovers into 16 points.

Wingate is back in action Monday, traveling to Coker for an 8 p.m. start. The Bulldogs play their third road game in five days Wednesday, traveling to Newberry for an 8 p.m. tip.