Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs shook off a sluggish start Wednesday night, picking up an 82-80 victory over visiting Limestone University in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action in Cuddy Arena. Wingate improves to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the SAC, while the Saints fall to 4-3 overall and 3-2 in league play.

KEY STATS

- Limestone shot 45 percent from the field; Wingate shot 38 percent
- Both teams went six-for-22 from three-point range
- The 'Dogs outrebounded the Saints 47-32, with a 19-4 edge in second-chance points
- Wingate held a 34-26 advantage in points in the paint
- The Saints scored 19 points off 15 Wingate turnovers
- Limestone had 14 steals on the night; the 'Dogs had six steals
- WU went 28-for-32 at the free throw line; LU was 20-for-29 at the line

KEY BULLDOGS

- Andreas Wilson had 22 points, going four-for-eight from deep and 10-for-11 at the line
- Jarren Cottingham added 20 points, six rebounds and three steals, going eight-for-nine at the line
- Rashaard Pringle contributed 12 points and eight boards on six-of-eight shooting
- Donell Nixon had 10 points, eight rebounds, a steal and an assist
- Sean Elmore added 10 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals

FIRST HALF

- An Isayah Owens jumper gave the Saints a 15-4 lead five minutes in
- Wilson's triple cut the lead to eight, but a Greg McKay triple made it 20-7
- Destin Clark's bucket capped a 6-0 run, pulling the 'Dogs within seven at 20-13
- Owens pushed the Limestone lead back to nine with a jumper at the 9:04 mark
- Cottingham's layup and Wilson's triple pulled the Bulldogs within two at 26-24 at the 6:33 mark
- A Greg McKay three put the Saints on top by five with 4:19 remaining
- Elmore buried a three to make it a two-point game, while a Nixon bucket gave WU a 38-36 lead
- A Pringle dunk with 44 seconds left gave the 'Dogs a 41-38 rebounding advantage

SECOND HALF

- Pringle's layup two minutes into the second half gave the 'Dogs a 47-40 lead
- A Cottingham three-point play and Pringle layup made it 52-43 with 15:35 left
- A Ben Gahlert layup at the 13:50 mark pulled the Saints back within three
- A Nixon jumper an Wilson triple put Wingate on top by 10 with 12:39 to go
- Gahlert's layup at the 9:28 mark cut the lead back to five
- Threes from Wilson and Elmore, along with a Pringle dunk made it 70-59 with 7:11 left
- Two Elmore free throws at the 5:12 mark made it 72-61
- Limestone scored the next 10, getting eight free throws and a Gahlert dunk to pull within one with 2:05 left
- Cottingham answered with a layup, while Taylor's dunk made it 76-72 with 47 seconds left
- Free throws from Nixon and Cottingham pushed the lead to six with eight seconds left
- An Owens half court heave at the buzzer made the final score 82-80

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back in action Sunday, hosting Catawba at 2 p.m.