Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University nearly erased an eight-point deficit in the final 25 seconds Wednesday night, but a potential game-tying three in the final seconds rimmed out, giving Newberry College a 75-72 victory over the Bulldogs in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action in Cuddy Arena. Newberry improves to 10-12 overall and 7-9 in the SAC, while the 'Dogs fall to 9-10 overall and 8-9 in league play.

KEY STATS

- Newberry shot 45 percent from the field, going six-for-21 from three-point range (29 percent)
- Wingate shot 39 percent from the field, connecting on seven-of-28 from deep (25 percent)
- The 'Dogs held a 41-40 rebounding advantage and 15-8 edge in second-chance points
- The Wolves shot 60 percent from the field in the second half, after shooting 30 percent in the first
- Wingate was 15-for-19 at the free throw line; the Wolves went 15-for-25
- Newberry outscored Wingate 38-20 in the paint

KEY BULLDOGS

- Kendall Taylor had 22 points, nine rebounds and five assists
- Jaden Lingo added 12 points, three boards and a steal
- Aaron Hall had eight points, 11 rebounds, a block and a steal
- Corbin Pack also had eight points
- Derek Bradley and Jaleb Grant contributed six points apiece
- Jordan Miller had five points, five board, three steals and an assist

FIRST HALF

- A Devario Sheppard dunk four minutes in gave Newberry a 9-5 lead
- Wingate countered with an 11-1 run, taking a 16-10 lead on Pack's triple at the 11:43 mark
- Buckets from Taylor and Grant pushed the lead to seven at the midway point
- Two Brett Dent free throws with 3:06 remaining cut the lead to two at 23-21
- Taylor answered with a jumper top push the lead back to four
- A Drew Robinson jumper with two minutes left tied it at 25
- Blessed Barhayiga knocked down two free throw to give WU a 27-25 lead
- Robinson's jumper in the final minute tied it at 27

SECOND HALF

- A three from Malakhi Stremlo gave the Wolves a 45-38 advantage at the 13:50 mark
- Lingo answered with a three, but Robinson's steal and layup put Newberry on top 52-42
- A Bradley three and two Grant free throws cut the lead to four with 8:20 to go
- Two free throws and a three from Lingo tied it at 60 with 6:28 remaining
- The Wolves scored the next nine, taking a 69-60 lead on a Robinson three with 4:11 left
- A layup and two free throws from Taylor cut the lead to five with 3:06 to go
- Two Robinson free throws with 36 seconds left put Newberry on top by eight
- Pack knocked down a three with 24 seconds left to make it 74-69
- Makhi Rivers made one free throw; Bradley got the rebound and buried a three with 19 seconds left to make it 75-72
- The Wolves missed both free throws with 10 seconds left, with Wingate grabbing the rebound
- Taylor's contested three from the top of the key went in and out, giving the Wolves the victory

UP NEXT

- Wingate is back in action Saturday, traveling to Tusculum for a 4 p.m. start