Hartsville, S.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs closed the game on a 19-9 run Wednesday night, picking up an 86-79 victory at Coker University in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action. Wingate improves to 9-10 overall and 5-8 in the SAC, while the Cobras fall to 5-12 overall and 4-9 in league play.

THOUGHTS FROM BRIAN GOOD

"This was a good road win. Given the circumstances this week at Coker, it was a very spirited crowd and our guys handled it well, especially in the first half. We did a great job at the free throw line down the stretch when they started fouling to extend the game. Quantra was fantastic on the glass."

KEY STATS

- Wingate shot 41 percent from the field, hitting 10-of-26 threes (39 percent)
- Coker shot 42 percent from the field, connecting on nine-of-28 triples (32 percent)
- The 'Dogs held a 41-34 rebounding advantage and 11-8 edge in second-chance points
- The Bulldogs converted 14 Coker turnovers into 13 points
- The Cobras held a 30-26 edge in points in the paint; WU had a 23-15 advantage in fast-break points
- Wingate was 26-for-34 at the free throw line, while Coker went 20-for-25 at the line

KEY BULLDOGS

- Jarren Cottingham had 27 points, five rebounds and two assists
- Miguel Priest added 16 points, five boards and a steal
- Francis Sio contributed 16 points, four boards and two assists, going 11-for-12 at the free throw line
- Quantra Taylor piled up eight points and 14 rebounds

NOTES

- Wingate improves to 15-5 all-time against the Cobras
- The 'Dogs are 5-2 at Coker
- WU avenges an early-season home loss against Coker
- Wingate scored 45 in the home loss to the Cobras; had 50 in the first half tonight
- The Bulldogs are 8-0 when scoring at least 80 points this season
- Cottingham has scored 20 or more points eight times this season
- Priest has scored in double figures in nine of his last 10 games
- Sio has 40 points over his last two games; career-high 11 made free throws
- Season-high 14 boards for Taylor; second-most in his career

FIRST HALF

- A Jakob Dawkins three gave the Bulldogs an early 9-5 advantage
- Layups from Taylor and Cottingham extended the lead to six at the 15:47 mark
- Chandler Lindsey's three a minute later got Coker within one at 13-12
- Wingate answered with a 10-2 run, getting seven points from Sio to take a 23-14 lead
- Malcolm Kennedy's triple at the midway point got Coker back within four
- Donell Nixon answered with a three to put the 'Dogs back on top by eight
- Lindsey's layup with four minutes left got the Cobras within two at 34-32
- A Cottingham layup and Nixon triple made it 41-34 at the 2:48 mark
- Cottingham knocked down a three at the buzzer to give the 'Dogs a 50-42 halftime lead

SECOND HALF

- Kennedy knocked down a triple early in the second half to get Coker back within four
- A Taylor layup and Cottingham three pushed the WU lead back to six with 14 minutes left
- Lindsey got the Cobras within three at the 8:47 mark with a pair of free throws
- Kennedy buried a three at the 7:11 mark to give Coker a 66-65 advantage, while his layup put CU on top by three
- Cottingham drilled a three with four minutes left to tie it at 70
- Sio knocked down four free throws to give the 'Dogs a 74-72 advantage with two minutes to go
- Cottingham's layup with a minute left gave Wingate a four-point lead, while Sio added two more free throws 20 seconds later
- Lindsey got the Cobras back within three with a pair of free throws with 26 second left
- Cottingham knocked down four free throws the next nine seconds to make it 83-76 with 15 seconds remaining

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back home Saturday afternoon, hosting Lenoir-Rhyne at 4 p.m.
- The Bulldogs host Catawba next Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN3