Wednesday, February 9, 2005
WINGATE OUTLASTS PC 88-82
IN SAC MEN'S HOOPS OT THRILLER
WINGATE, N.C.----The Wingate University men's basketball team avenged a South Atlantic Conference road overtime loss to Presbyterian College with an 88-82 overtime win over the Blue Hose Wednesday night in Cuddy Arena on the Wingate campus. The Bulldogs never trailed in the extra frame.
With the win, Wingate improves to 7-15 overall and 3-6 in the SAC. The Bulldogs had lost four games in a row prior to tonight's victory. Presbyterian falls to 14-8 overall and 5-4 in the SAC. Both teams have home games Saturday, as Wingate hosts Newberry (4 p.m.) and Presbyterian entertains Carson-Newman (4 p.m.).
Five players hit double figures for the Bulldogs. Wingate freshman forward/guard Sean Barnette (Rock Hill, S.C.) had team-high totals of 15 points and six rebounds. For Presbyterian, junior center Johann Collins topped the charts with a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds.
The contest was tied 15 times. Wingate took the lead for good when junior point guard Maurice Hoover (Allendale, S.C.) hit two free throws with 3:26 to go in the overtime period, giving the Bulldogs a 77-75 advantage. Wingate made 11-of-13 free throws (84.6 percent) in overtime. The Bulldogs entered the game hitting only 63.6 percent of their charity tosses.
Wingate scored 23 points off 20 Presbyterian turnovers. Neither team led by more than five points in regulation, as the lead changed hands 18 times. Wingate's free throw accuracy in extra innings allowed the hosts to take an eight-point lead with seconds remaining in overtime.
The top freshman scorer in the SAC, Barnette matched his season average with his 15 points. Bulldog sophomore guard Ernest Mangum (New London, N.C.) had 14 points, while senior forward Ahmad Ricardson (Havelock, N.C.) and junior guard Fernando Powell (Chester, Va.) notched 11 points each. Hoover contributed 10 markers.
For Presbyterian, Collins recorded his second double-double in as many outings against the Bulldogs this year. He had 25 points and 13 rebounds for the Blue Hose in a 97-85 overtime win over Wingate Jan. 12 in Clinton, S.C.
Blue Hose redshirt freshman forward Martynas Versinskas had 12 points in 13 minutes, while sophomore forward Brian Epperly netted 11 points. Freshman guard Pat Kiscaden chipped in 10 points for the visitors. Presbyterian hit only four-of-21 three-point field goals for the game (19 percent).