Greeneville, Tenn.----Wingate University senior guard Marco Haskins poured in a career-high 30 points Saturday afternoon, but Tusculum University held on for a 77-65 victory over the Bulldogs in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action. Tusculum moves to 16-12 overall and 12-8 in the SAC, while the 'Dogs fall to 16-12 overall and 12-8 in league play.

KEY STATS

- Tusculum shot 48 percent from the field, hitting 11-of-28 threes (39 percent)
- The Pioneers shot 56 percent from the field in the second half
- Wingate shot 31 percent from the field, connecting on six-of-28 from beyond the arc (21 percent)
- The Pioneers held a 41-31 rebounding advantage
- WU converted 18 Tusculum turnovers into 23 points
- Each team scored 22 points in the paint
- The Pioneers held a 7-6 edge in second-chance points
- The 'Dogs went 23-for-27 at the free throw line; Tusculum was 16-for-23

KEY BULLDOGS

- Haskins was eight-for-17 from the field and nine-for-nine at the free throw line
- Jakob Dawkins added nine points, four rebounds and four steals
- Frankie Johnson had eight points, six rebounds and four assists
- Quantra Taylor contributed eight points, three boards and two assists
- Francis Sio added six points and four rebounds

FIRST HALF

- A Tariq Jenkins three-point play gave Tusculum a 10-4 lead eight minutes in
- Threes from Haskins and Johnson gave the 'Dogs a 12-11 advantage at the 9:37 mark
- Trenton Gibson's bucket gave the Pioneers a six-point lead with eight minutes to go
- Two Haskins free throws and a Josh Strozier dunk tied it at 22 at the 4:21 mark
- Back-to-back Haskins triples gave the Bulldogs a 30-25 advantage
- Three Jenkins free throws in the last 35 seconds got Tusculum within one at 32-31 heading to halftime

SECOND HALF

- A Taylor dunk and Johnson jumper gave Wingate a three-point lead early in the second half
- A Haskins three made it 42-39, but TU answered with a 10-1 run to take a 49-42 advantage at the 12:34 mark
- A Haskins layup got the Bulldogs back within four, but Gibson's three put Tusculum up by seven at the midway point
- A Donovan Donaldson triple and Jenkins layup put the Pioneers on top by 10  with 8:53 to go
- Three Haskins free throws and two Johnson free throws cut the lead in half a minute later
- Threes from Donaldson and Dillon Smith gave Tusculum a 63-54 lead at the 5:40 mark
- Brandon Mitchell's layup at the 1:50 mark put the Pioneers on top by 12
- Two free throws and a three from Haskins got WU back within six with 39 seconds Left
- The Bulldogs would get no closer the rest of the way

UP NEXT

- Wingate is the number six seed in the SAC Tournament
- The Bulldogs travel to Lincoln Memorial Wednesday night for a 7 p.m. start