Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University redshirt junior guard
Francis Sio poured in a career-high 29 points Saturday afternoon, leading the Bulldogs to an 89-69 victory over visiting Mars Hill University in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action in Cuddy Arena. Wingate wins its fourth straight, improving to 4-2 overall and 4-2 in the SAC, while the Lions fall to 0-1 overall and 0-1 in league play.
KEY STATS
- Wingate shot 45 percent from the field; MHU shot 42 percent
- The 'Dogs hit eight-of-29 threes (28 percent); the Lions were three-for-24 (12 percent)
- The Bulldogs held a 42-41 rebounding advantage and 14-6 edge in second-chance points
- Wingate converted 18 MHU turnovers into 17 points, scoring 20 fast-break points
- The 'Dogs piled up 12 steals on the night; the Lions had four steals
- WU went 15-for-20 at the free throw line (75 percent); MHU was 14-for-23 (61 percent)
- The 'Dogs shot 50 percent from the field in the second half; Mars Hill shot 38 percent
- Wingate outscored Mars Hill 53-38 in the second half
- The Bulldogs held a 46-34 advantage in points in the paint
- The contests featured 16 ties and one lead change
KEY BULLDOGS
- Sio added four assists, three rebounds and a steal to his career night, hitting 11-of-20 shots from the field
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Jarren Cottingham added 12 points, five assists and two steals
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Kendrick Tucker and
Andreas Wilson contributed nine points apiece
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Rashaard Pringle contributed eight points and 13 rebounds, adding two blocks
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Miguel Priest added seven points, seven rebounds and two assists
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Donell Nixon had six points, four steals and two assists
NOTES
- Wingate moves to 41-18 overall against Mars Hill
- The 'Dogs are 26-5 against the Lions in Cuddy Arena
- WU has won 23 straight at home against MHU dating back to the 1997-98 season
- The Bulldogs have outscored opponents 208-147 in the second half during the winning streak
- That averages out to Wingate outscoring opponents 52-37 in the second half during the streak
- Sio has scored in double figures 13 consecutive games
- First game with at least 20 points this season after four 20-point games last season
- Season high rebounds for Pringle; second-most after a 17-rebound effort against Coker last season
- Season-high five assists for Cottingham
FIRST HALF
- A Sio layup gave the Bulldogs an early 11-6 advantage
- MHU scored the next seven, taking a two-point lead on an Isayah Johnson triple with 13:19 left
- The 'Dogs answered with seven straight, going on top 18-13 on a Wilson three at the 11:13 mark
- The Lions used an 8-03 run to take a 21-18 lead on a Reggie Wright jumper three minutes later
- layups from Wilson and Sio gave the Bulldogs a three-point advantage at the 6:48 mark
- A four-point play from Wright with three minutes left gave Mars Hill a 29-26 lead
- WU ended the half on a 10-2 run, getting five points from Sio to take a 36-31 halftime lead
SECOND HALF
- A Sio triple, two Pringle free throws and a Priest layup gave WU a 43-33 lead two minutes in
- A Tucker triple and Pringle putback dunk, along with a Sio bucket stretched the lead to 16
- A Sio jumper and triple gave the 'Dogs a 58-39 advantage with 13:42 to go
- A Nassyr Daniel bucket with eight minutes left pulled the Lions back within nine
- Wingate countered with a huge 14-0 run to take a 25-point lead
- Sio and Cottingham had five points each in the spurt, putting WU on top 78-53 at the 4:05 mark
- Threes from
Erik Alvey and
Michael Bagnasco pushed the Wingate lead to 29 in the final minutes
UP NEXT
- Wingate is back in action Wednesday, hosting Newberry at 2 p.m.
