Nov. 18, 2005

Final Stats

Wingate, N.C.- Wingate University sprinted to a 17-point halftime lead and weathered a furious Winston-Salem State University rally to take an 88-85 NCAA Division II men's basketball victory Thursday night in Cuddy Arena on the Wingate campus.  With the loss, the Rams dropped to 0-2 on the season.

The contest was the season opener for the Bulldogs (1-0 overall). Winston-Salem is 0-2 on the season and 0-2 against South Atlantic Conference schools this year as the Rams dropped their season opener at Lenoir-Rhyne College Tuesday night.

Six Bulldogs hit double figures, led by sophomore forward/guard Sean Barnette (Rock Hill, S.C.) with 18 points. Freshman forward Kenny Villines (Fayetteville, N.C.) had 14 points in his Wingate debut, while junior guard Justin Baker (Lumberton, N.C.) netted 13 points.

Wingate redshirt sophomore center Bryan Grier (Charlotte, N.C.) made a triumphant return, after missing the entire 2004-05 season with an injury. Grier recorded 11 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high eight blocks. Bulldog senior guard Fernando Powell (Chester, Va.) and junior guard Ernest Mangum (New London, N.C.) contributed 10 points each for the hosts.

For Winston-Salem State, junior guard Curtis Hines came off the bench to lead all scorers with 20 points. Ram senior guard Corey Parker had 14 points. WSSU junior forward Alonzo Roberts contributed 13 points in a reserve role, while freshman forward Jamal Durham chipped in 11 markers.

Wingate led by as many as 19 points in the first half before settling for a 45-28 lead at intermission. Winston-Salem State wasted little time getting back into the contest, as the Rams scored the first 13 points of the second half to cut the Wingate lead to 45-41 on a three-pointer by senior forward Frank Johnson at the 18:17 mark.

The Bulldogs turned the tables, as the hosts made a 10-0 run to push the lead back to 55-41 on an old-fashioned three-point play by Villines with 15:51 to go in the second half. Villines had 12 of his 14 points in the second half.

The Rams made a final push, cutting the Wingate lead to 71-69 on two Parker free throws at the 5:51 plateau. Villines and Parker traded inside hoops to make the score 73-71. The Bulldogs turned the ball over on their next trip down the floor, but the Rams missed a three-point field goal on the return trip.

Winston-Salem did not get another chance to take the lead or tie the game, as Wingate made nine-of-10 free throws in the last four minutes to keep the Rams at bay. The Bulldogs led by as many as nine in the waning moments.

Wingate shot 57.1 percent (28-of-49) from the field, while Winston-Salem State managed only 39.1 percent (25-of-64). The two teams combined for 53 fouls and 67 free throws. The Rams hit 28-of-33 free throws (84.8 percent), while the Bulldogs converted 26-of-34 charity tosses (76.5 percent).

WSSU returns to action on Tuesday as they host Tusculum College in the CE Gaines Center at 7:30 pm.

For additional information on WSSU basketball, contact the WSSU Office of Sports Information at (336) 750-2143 or log on to the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at www.WSSURAMS.com

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