Spartanburg, S.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs outscored Belmont Abbey College 40-22 in the second half, rolling to a 75-55 victory in the season opener in NCAA Division II men's basketball action. Wingate starts the season 1-0, while the Crusaders, who went 18-5 last season, start this year 0-1.

KEY STATS

- Wingate shot 43 percent from the field; Belmont Abbey shot 41 percent
- WU hit 12-of-32 threes; BAC went one-for-13 from beyond the arc
- The Bulldogs held a 42-38 rebounding advantage and 10-7 edge in second-chance points
- Wingate converted 15 BAC turnovers into 18 points
- The WU bench outscore the Crusader bench 22-13
- The 'Dogs had 16 assists on 26 field goals
- The Bulldogs improve to 12-3 all-time against Belmont Abbey
- Wingate has won four straight in the series
- The 'Dogs have now won three of their last four season openers
- WU also opened the 2018-19 season with a win over BAC (104-87)

KEY BULLDOGS

- Donell Nixon had 15 points, five assists and four steals to lead the Wingate attack
- He knocked down five-of-eight threes on the night
- Sean Elmore had 15 points, six rebounds, three assists and a steal in his WU debut
- Andreas Wilson contributed 11 points and three boards, knocking down three triples
- Jarren Cottingham added 10 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal
- Destin Clark piled up eight points, 11 rebounds and four assists
- Quantra Taylor had eight points and three boards, going four-for-six from the field

FIRST HALF

- The Crusaders jumped out to a 6-0 lead two minutes in
- A Charles Solomon three-point play gave Belmont Abbey a 9-3 advantage
- WU scored the next seven, getting a layup and triple from Elmore to take a 10-9 lead
- A Solomon layup put BAC back on top by four with 12 minutes left in the half
- A Cottingham three and Clark layup put Wingate on top 19-18 at the midway point
- WU used a 7-0 run to take a 27-22 lead, getting a Wilson triple and Rashaard Pringle three-point play
- A Chandler Baker layup capped a 7-0 run that put the Crusaders on top 29-27 with 4:07 left
- Nixon answered with a steal and a three to put Wingate back on top
- An Elmore triple and Cottingham bucket in the final minute gave the 'Dogs a 35-33 halftime lead

SECOND HALF

- Wingate scored the first six points of the second half, getting an Elmore triple to push the lead to eight
- A Ryan Maslow dunk pulled Belmont Abbey back within four with 16 minutes remaining
- WU scored the next eight, getting two Nixon triples and a Cottingham jumper to go on top 51-39
- Wilson buried a three with 11 minutes to go put the Bulldogs on top 56-42
- Nixon knocked down a triple two minutes later to extend the lead to 15
- Another Wilson triple with 6:34 to go made it 65-50
- An LJ McCoy layup with 4:50 left pulled BAC within 12, but WU scored the last eight points of the game
- The Bulldogs held Belmont Abbey scoreless over the final 4:50 of the night
- A Taylor dunk and two Cottingham free throws put Wingate on top by 17
- A Pringle layup and Avern Montaque free throw made the final margin 75-55

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back in action Saturday, taking on Converse at 7:30 p.m.
- The 'Dogs open SAC play at Lenoir-Rhyne Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
- WU's home opener is next weekend, hosting LMU on Saturday at 4 p.m.