Hickory, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs avenged a loss in Cuddy Arena earlier this season to Lenoir-Rhyne University, returning the favor by downing the Bears 73-69 in Hickory in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action Wednesday night. Wingate improves to 13-12 overall and 10-7 in the SAC, while the Bears fall to 10-13 overall and 8-10 in league play. The 'Dogs remain in fourth place in the league standings with three games remaining in the regular season, looking to secure a home game in the SAC Tournament quarterfinals.

Senior guard Zeriq Lolar (Orlando, Fla.) had 24 points to lead the Wingate attack, knocking down five threes on the night while adding three rebounds and two steals. Junior guard Marco Haskins (Fredericksburg, Va.) had 13 points, nine rebounds, three steals and two assists, while senior forward Devarious Christian (Charlotte, N.C.) contributed 12 points, seven boards and three assists. Senior Neico Robinson (Easley, S.C.) and junior Emarius Logan (Columbia, S.C.) added eight points apiece, with Logan handing out four assists.

Djibril Diallo had 27 points and six rebounds to lead the Lenoir-Rhyne offense. Darius Simmons added 13 points, four boards and three assists, while Billy Bales contributed nine points for the Bears. Cory Thomas and Bertrand Awana had eight points apiece for the Bears.

A Simmons three gave LR an early 11-7 lead, but a Haskins three tied it at 13 with 13:06 left in the first half. Christian knocked down a three to put Wingate on top at the midway point, while a Lolar triple made it 25-22 with six minutes left in the half. A Charlie Hovasse (Colorado Springs, Colo.) three and Christian layup made it 33-25, while Hovasse answered a Bales three with a jumper in the final minutes to give the Bulldogs a 35-28 halftime advantage.

A Haskins layup four minutes into the second half gave Wingate a 48-40 advantage, but the Bears scored the next six points, with Bradford's layup making it a two-point game at the 12:37 mark. A three and layup from Diallo tied it at 51, but the Bulldogs had the answer, going on a 16-4 run to take a 12-point lead. Logan started the flurry with a triple, while a jumper and three from Haskins pushed the advantage to six. Christian and Lolar added three-point plays to make it 67-55 with 5:35 to go.

Lenoir-Rhyne used an 11-2 run to get back within three on a Diallo triple with 1:14 remaining. Logan knocked down a pair of free throws to push the lead back to five, but a Simmons triple made it 71-69 with 38 seconds left. Robinson and Jeremy Williams (Salem, Va.) each knocked down a free throw in the final 36 seconds to preserve the win, as the Bears missed their final two shots, one of which was blocked by Robinson.

Wingate shot 45.6 percent from the field, hitting 11-of-25 shots from three-point range (44 percent). Lenoir-Rhyne shot 42.9 percent from the field, connecting on 10-of-21 shots from beyond the arc (47.6 percent). The 'Dogs held a 33-32 rebounding advantage with a dominant 19-5 edge in second chance points.

The Bulldogs are back in action Saturday, hosting Anderson at 4 p.m. on Senior Day.