Men’s Basketball Celebrates Senior Day

MARS HILL, N.C. - The Wingate University men's basketball team shot 64.4 percent from the floor Saturday afternoon, taking a 95-70 South Atlantic Conference victory over Mars Hill College in Stanford Arena. Wingate is 16-10 overall and 12-4 in the SAC. Mars Hill is 5-20 overall and 3-13 in the SAC.

Before the game, the Lions recognized their three senior players. JaShawn Anderson, Sammy Emile and Petar Kostic were honored for their contributions to the program.

Odell Turner led five Bulldogs in double figures with his 15 points. Paidrick Matilus had 14 points, while Chase Smith netted 13 points with a team-best three three-point field goals. Deion Turman posted 12 points, while classmate Jeffrey Parker contributed 10 points on five-of-five shooting.

Terrell Harris led Mars Hill with a game-high 31 points, hitting 12-of-16 field goals. Sammy Emile had 12 points as the Bulldogs held the conference's leading scorer 13 points below his average.

The visiting Bulldogs led wire-to-wire, posting the best shooting percentage (64.4 percent, 38-of-59) by a Mars Hill visitor this season. Wingate hit a sizzling 75 percent in the first half (21-of-28) as the Bulldogs took a 46-31 advantage at the halftime break. Matilus hit back-to-back jumpers to put Wingate up 6-0 with three minutes expired and the Bulldogs never looked back.

A dunk by Turman on an assist from Jaime Vaughn put Wingate up 23-12 with 9:47 to play in the first frame. A Vaughn fast-break lay-up helped the Bulldogs double-up the Lions 38-19 at the 3:35 mark. The 19-point bulge was Wingate's largest lead of the first half.

Mars Hill would get no closer than 17 points after intermission. A Matilus triple gave Wingate a 53-33 lead with 16:53 remaining in the contest. Two free throws from Mike Tyson with 78 seconds left gave the Bulldogs their biggest margin at 93-63.

The Bulldogs cooled down in the second half, but still converted 54.8 percent of their field goal attempts (17-of-31). On the afternoon, the Lions shot 41.1 percent (23-of-56). Mars Hill managed only one three-point field goal in 11 tries (9.1 percent). Wingate drained seven-of-13 triples (53.8 percent).

Wingate cleaned up the glass, outrebounding Mars Hill 42-24. Ethan Kincaid topped the charts with his eight rebounds. Khouriachi Thiam had a team-best six rebounds for the hosts. Mars Hill scored 29 points off 21 Wingate turnovers.

The Bulldogs return to action Wednesday, hosting Newberry College at 8 p.m. Mars Hill is also in action Wednesday, traveling to Catawba College for an 8 p.m. start.