Bulldogs end three game skid with 70-60 win over Lenoir-Rhyne

By Steven Grandy
Sports Editor

Coming off of three straight losses, the Wingate men’s basketball team came in to Wednesday’s game against Lenoir-Rhyne needing a win to have a .500 record at the halfway point of the South Atlantic Conference slate. The Bulldogs got what they needed, pulling out a 70-60 win over the Bears to improve their conference record to 4-4 and 11-8 overall.

“It was great to get one,” said head coach Brian Good. “We needed to stop the bleeding after the last few games. We played hard in those but were unable to win. Tonight, we did what we needed to do to get the victory.”

Wingate jumped out to an early lead thanks to a series of three pointers by Jamie Vaughn, Paidrick Matilus and Chase Smith at with 11:31 to go in the first half, but Lenoir-Rhyne (3-15, 1-7) came charging back. The Bears mounted a comeback to take a five point lead with 4:49 remaining in the half, but Wingate took a 38-34 lead into halftime following a Smith three pointer with four seconds remaining. The Bulldogs and Bears exchanged the lead eight times and were tied five times in the opening half, with the largest lead by either team being five points.

The early stages of the second half played out the same way as the first, with neither team being able to open up a large lead. Wingate took the lead for the rest of the contest when freshman center Odell Turner made a shot with 18:17 on the clock. The Bulldogs seized control of the game when Vaughn hit a series of three- point shots at the 12:18, 10:49 and 9:32 marks of the half. Vaughn’s last three -pointer was a turning point in the game, as he was fouled while shooting. Vaughn made the free throw to complete the four point play, giving the Bulldogs a lead that would not go under seven points for the rest of the game.
Vaughn and Lenior-Rhyne forward D.J. Blackmon led all players with 22 points each.

Turner was the second highest scorer for the Bulldogs, contributing 16 points to the winning cause. Many of Turner’s points came due to a size mismatch against the Bears defense. “I played against a smaller man,” said the 6’6’’ Turner. “I was able to use my height as an advantage and shot over him,” said Turner.

For Good, the beginning of the second half of conference play is almost like beginning a new season. “We are back at square one,” said Good. “We won a few games that I didn’t think we would win as well as let a few games slip away that I thought we could have won. I think it is a product of having a young team, but I’m getting tired of saying that. We have played nearly 20 games already.”

The Bulldogs will travel to Harrogate, Tenn. on Saturday to play Lincoln Memorial University. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.