Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs shot 55 percent from the field Saturday afternoon, knocking down 15 threes while cruising to a 104-83 victory over Mars Hill University in the opening round of the 2021 South Atlantic Conference men's basketball tournament in Cuddy Arena. Wingate improves to 11-8 overall, advancing to Monday night's quarterfinals. Mars Hill ends its season at 2-16.

KEY STATS

- Wingate shot 55 percent from the field; Mars Hill shot 47 percent
- The 'Dogs shot 63 percent in the second half, going 24-for-38 from the field
- Wingate was 15-for-34 from threes (44 percent); MHU went 16-for-38 from distance (47 percent)
- The Lions held a 35-34 rebounding advantage and 8-2 edge in second-chance points
- WU scored 18 points off 12 Mars Hill turnovers
- The Bulldogs handed out 26 assists on 39 field goals
- Wingate had 10 of the 14 steals in the game; MHU had four of the five blocked shots
- The 'Dogs went 11-for-11 at the free throw line; the Lions were nine-for-16 at the line
- The Bulldogs outscored Mars Hill 60-54 in the second half

KEY BULLDOGS

- Jarren Cottingham had 24 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals, going 10-for-15 from the field
- Miguel Priest had 20 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals
- Andreas Wilson added 18 points, hitting six-of-11 threes while handing out four assists
- Kendrick Tucker contributed 16 points on five-of-six shooting, adding four boards and three assists
- Francis Sio had 14 points and five rebounds
- Quantra Taylor added six points and four boards; Destin Clark collected five assists, four boards and three steals

NOTES

- Wingate improves to 43-18 all-time against Mars Hill
- The Bulldogs are 27-5 against the Lions in Cuddy Arena
- WU has won 24 straight home games against MHU
- Season high for points, field goals made and assists
- Second-best field goal percentage of the season; second-most steals
- Second time the 'Dogs have hit the century mark this season (103 at Catawba)
- Most points in a half for Wingate since scoring 62 against Mars Hill (2/16/2013)
- Ninth time this season Cottingham has scored at least 20
- Ninth time Cottingham has had at least four assists this season; 19 assists last four games
- Second time Priest has scored at least 20 this season, fourth time with 19 or more points
- Seventh time Wilson has scored over 15 points this season; sixth time with at least four threes
- Third time Tucker has had more than 15 points this season
- Sio has scored in double figures in 25 of his last 26 games

FIRST HALF

- An Austin Gilyard three gave Mars Hill a 13-9 lead five minutes in
- Reggie Wright's triple pushed the MHU lead to five at the 12:11 mark
- A Cottingham layup and Wilson triple tied it at 16
- Javonte Cooke's bucket with 7:01 to go gave the Lions a 25-22 advantage
- Wingate responded by closing the half on a 22-4 run
- Wilson tied it at 25 with a triple to start the flurry, while Tucker put WU on top with two free throws
- Sio followed with back-to-back layups to push the lead to six with five minutes left
- A Cottingham bucket and Taylor dunk made it 37-26 with 2:13 to go
- Tucker added a layup and triple in the final 90 seconds to make it 44-29 at halftime

SECOND HALF

- A Cottingham dunk two minutes into the second half made it 49-31
- A Cottingham triple and Tucker jumper pushed the lead to 21 at the 16:11 mark
- Buckets from Tucker and Cottingham made it 62-39 with 13:44 to go
- Wright's triple with 12:38 remaining pulled Mars Hill to within 19
- Wingate answered with a 10-3 run to push the lead to 26
- Wilson started it with a three, which was followed by a Cottingham dunk
- Wilson's triple with 10:24 left put the 'Dogs on top 74-48
- Buckets from Sio and Avern Montaque gave Wingate its biggest lead at 100-73 with 1:38 left

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back in action Monday, traveling to Carson-Newman
- The SAC quarterfinal contest is slated to tip at 8 p.m.