Wednesday, February 13, 2008

WINGATE RALLIES IN SECOND HALF TO BEAT TUSCULUM 64-53

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Sean Barnette recorded a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds as the Wingate University men’s basketball team rallied in the second half to defeat host Tusculum College, 64-53 Wednesday at Pioneer Arena. Wingate (17-5, 8-2 SAC), ranked No. 4 in the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Region, wins its third straight game, while sweep the South Atlantic Conference season series over Tusculum (9-14, 3-8 SAC).

Wingate’s Larry Staley added 14 points off the bench as he shot 6-for-9 from the floor.

Tusculum was led by Lavonti Jeter who accounted for 13 points and eight rebounds, while Jordan Lear and Ryan Troutman finished with 12 and 10 points, respectively.

The Bulldogs used a 17-3 run over a span of 7:35 in the second half to take a 50-40 lead with 8:17 remaining. The run was sparked by back-to-back three-pointers by Sam Jones.

Tusculum cut the deficit back to six at 50-44 following a pair of free throws by Troutman. But Wingate capped off the win with an 8-2 run in the closing moments preserve the road win.

For Barnette, the league’s top scorer and rebound, it was his 27th career double-double, while also marking his 61^st straight game scoring in double-digits.

Tusculum led throughout most of the first half, taking its largest lead at 13-6 at the 14:24 following a three-pointer by Jimmy Boone. TC would lead again by seven (31-24) after a three-point play by Troutman. Wingate answered with a 5-0 spurt thanks to a three-point play by Staley and a Bryan Grier lay-up at the buzzer as TC led 31-29 at the break.

Wingate shot 49 percent from the floor in the game, including 54.2 percent in the second half. Tusculum shot 32.1 percent from the field, including 27 percent in the second half.

Tusculum returns to action Saturday night when the Pioneers take on in-state foe Carson-Newman College at 8 p.m. in Jefferson City. Wingate will be at Brevard for a 4 p.m. non-league tilt on Saturday.

- TC -