Greeneville, Tenn.----The Wingate University Bulldogs closed the game on a 25-6 run over the final 10 minutes of regulation Saturday afternoon, erasing an 18-point second-half deficit en route to an 81-75 victory at Tusculum College in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action. Wingate improves to 12-10 overall and 9-5 in the SAC, while the Pioneers fall to 5-16 overall and 3-11 in league play.

"I'm really proud of our team," head coach Brian Good says. "Tusculum had all the momentum with 15 minutes to go. To dig in and come back like that on the road speaks to the character of our team."

Senior guard Zeriq Lolar (Orlando, Fla.) had 24 points to lead the Wingate offense, knocking down six-of-12 shots from three-point range while adding five rebounds. Graduate student Kerigan Farley (Hickory, N.C.) had 15 points, eight assists, six rebounds, two steals and a block, while junior guard Marco Haskins (Fredericksburg, Va.) also had 15 points to go along with 10 rebounds. Senior forward Devarious Christian (Charlotte, N.C.) contributed 10 points, nine rebounds and four blocks, while junior Emarius Logan (Columbia, S.C.) added six points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Peyton Woods had 24 points to lead the Tusculum attack, going seven-for-11 from beyond the arc. Ronnie Baylark added 15 points, while Caleb Hodnett contributed 11 points for the Pioneers.

Threes from Christian and Lolar gave Wingate a 14-8 lead six minutes into the opening half, but Tusculum scored the next 14 points, taking a 22-14 advantage on a Hunter Parrish layup with 9:34 left in the half. A Lolar triple sparked a 7-0 run for the 'Dogs to get within three, while another Lolar three tied it at 23 with six minutes to go in the half. A Quantra Taylor (Indian Land, S.C.) dunk put the Bulldogs on top, while Lolar's three made it 30-27, but a Woods three and two Hodnett buckets in the final three minutes gave the Pioneers a 36-34 halftime lead.

Tusculum scored 25 points in the first five minutes of the second half, taking a 61-43 lead with 15 minutes to go. Woods scored nine points in the spurt, while Baylark added eight points. Farley's three-point play got Wingate back within 12 less than two minutes later, but a three from Woods put Tusculum on top 69-56 with 11 minutes to go. A Haskins three, followed by a layup and two free throws from Farley made it a seven-point game, while another Farley bucket got the 'Dogs within five with nine minutes left.

Farley scored again with 7:49 left to make it 70-67, while his dunk made it a one-point game at the 6:49 mark. Baylark hit a three to push the lead back to four for the Pioneers, but two Logan free throws and a Haskins layup got the 'Dogs back within two. Lolar tied it with a layup at the 3:16 mark, while his two free throws a minute later put Wingate on top 77-75. Wingate kept the Pioneers off the board the final five minutes of the game, with four Logan free throws in the final 20 seconds giving the 'Dogs the six-point victory.

Wingate shot 41 percent from the field on the afternoon, hitting 10-of-26 shots from beyond the arc (38.5 percent). The Pioneers shot 42 percent from the field, connecting on 14-of-37 shots from three-point range (37.8 percent). The Bulldogs dominated the boards, holding a 51-32 rebounding advantage and 19-10 edge in second chance points.

The Bulldogs return home for a pair of challenging games this week. Wingate hosts second-ranked Queens Wednesday night at 8 p.m., while welcoming top-ranked Lincoln Memorial to Cuddy Arena Saturday at 4 p.m.