Men's Basketball | 10/20/2015 12:11:00 PM

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University Bulldogs get the 2015-16 season underway in less than a month, opening the year at the Tip-Off Challenge hosted by Belmont Abbey. Wingate has 28 games on the schedule this season, playing 22 South Atlantic Conference contests. The Bulldogs will have 15 games in Cuddy Arena, playing 12 road games and one neutral-site contest.

The Bulldogs went 15-14 last season, posting a 12-10 mark in league play, finishing fifth in the SAC standings. Wingate won back-to-back SAC Tournament titles in 2012 and 2013, advancing to the NCAA regional semifinals both years.

The 2015-16 schedule is another challenging one for head coach Brian Good, who is entering his eighth season at Wingate. "I can't recall a more difficult first semester schedule," Good says. "We will face four schools that are ranked in the DII Bulletin top 20." Wingate has continually faced one of the more challenging schedules in conference. "I've always believed that to reach your best you need to schedule good teams, especially early," Good says. "We have definitely done that this season. It should have us prepared for the rigors of South Atlantic Conference play."

The season kicks off Friday, Nov. 13, when Wingate faces Limestone at 5 p.m. in the Tip-Off Challenge at Belmont Abbey. "I love the opening conference challenges," Good says. "It gives us a great chance to evaluate our team in regards to three other in-region programs." Wingate and Limestone met in the season opener last year in Cuddy Arena, with Wingate prevailing 59-55, thanks to a 15-point, eight-rebound effort from Isiah Cureton (Waxhaw, N.C.). "Limestone has been in three of the last five NCAA Southeast Regionals, so last season's finish for them was an aberration," Good says. "I know they will put a very good team on the floor for opening night."

The 'Dogs take on Belmont Abbey the following night, with tip-off slated for 7:30 p.m. Wingate won 66-50 against the Crusaders last season, with Cureton and Xavier Griffin (Marshville, N.C.) contributing 14 points apiece. "Coach Unger had barely a month under his belt as Belmont Abbey's head coach before last year's match-up," Good says. "They will be much improved. I expect to learn much about our team from the tip-off tournament." 

Wingate welcomes Mount Olive to town Nov. 17, playing the home opener at 7 p.m. The Trojans won the regional title last season, finishing with a 31-4 record before falling in the national quarterfinals. Mount Olive picked up a 75-63 home win against the Bulldogs last season. The game was tied at halftime, and the 'Dogs trailed by two with five minutes remaining in regulation, but the Trojans closed the game on a 15-5 run to secure the double-digit home win. Mount Olive is ranked fourth in the DII Bulletin top 25 preseason poll.

The Bulldogs open conference play on the road, traveling to Lenoir-Rhyne on Nov. 24 for a 6 p.m. start. Wingate outscored LRU 41-25 in the second half of last year's game in Hickory en route to a 70-58 victory. Keith Griffin (Concord, N.C.) led the way with 13 points and 10 boards. Lenoir-Rhyne would come into Cuddy Arena later in the year and pick up a 10-point victory. The Bulldogs have won five of their last seven against the Bears.

Wingate steps out of conference play on Dec. 1, hosting UNC Pembroke at 8 p.m. The Braves also earned a spot in the NCAA Southeast regionals last year, advancing to the regional semifinals. UNCP went 26-6 last year, which included a 79-69 home win against Wingate. The game was tied at halftime, but the Braves raced out to a 12-point lead early in the second half. The 'Dogs fought back, cutting the lead to three with three minutes left, but the Braves closed the contest on a 10-3 run. UNCP is ranked 10th in the D2 Bulletin top 25.

Wingate is at Mars Hill Dec. 5 at 4 p.m. The Bulldogs won both meetings against the Lions last season, starting with a 74-60 road win, with Cureton and Zeriq Lolar (Orlando, Fla.) contributing 12 points each. The Bulldogs won by 37 in Cuddy Arena, shooting 54 percent from the field with four different players scoring in double figures. Wingate has won nine straight against the Lions.

The Bulldogs play two straight SAC home games, starting with Newberry on Dec. 8 at 6 p.m. Wingate picked up a 78-76 win over the Wolves in Cuddy Arena last year, getting 15 points, seven boards, three assists and three steals from Lolar. Newberry responded by winning its home game against Wingate 100-76. The Wolves have won three of their last four against the Bulldogs, after Wingate had reeled off seven consecutive wins in the series.

Wingate hosts Tusculum Dec. 13 at 4 p.m. The Bulldogs swept the season series against the Pioneers last year, starting with a 21-point road win. Cureton led the way with 18 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists. Wingate picked up a 70-65 win over TC in Cuddy Arena, getting 14 points from Anthanee Doyle (Holly Springs, N.C.) to go along with an 11-point, 13-rebound effort from Cureton.

A two-game SAC road trip starts with a contest at Lincoln Memorial Dec. 16 at 8 p.m. The SAC regular season champions last year, LMU swept the season series against Wingate. The Railsplitters won the first meeting by 19 points in Cuddy Arena, with Josh Dominguez (Matthews, N.C.) scoring 10 points for the Bulldogs. LMU won 76-70 in Harrogate, with Xavier Griffin leading the Wingate attack with 17 points. Wingate travels to Brevard Dec. 19 at 4 p.m. The Tornados won both games last year, winning by a combined five points. Brevard erased Wingate's 13-point second half lead to win 79-77 in Cuddy Arena. The Bulldogs have won nine of their last 11 against the Tornados.

The Bulldogs host GRU Augusta Dec. 31 at 2 p.m. The two teams met last year, with the Jaguars picking up an 83-70 home win. Augusta is ranked 17th in the DII Bulletin preseason top 25 after appearing in the 2015 NCAA Southeast Regionals. Wingate's final non-conference game is January 2, traveling to Johnson C. Smith for a 4 p.m. game. The Bulldogs defeated the Golden Bulls 75-69 in Cuddy Arena last season, getting 12 points and seven rebounds from Keith Griffin.

The Bulldogs host Coker January 6 at 8 p.m. The Cobras picked up a five-point win in Hartsville last year, while Wingate prevailed 68-52 in Cuddy Arena, with Lolar and Keith Griffin contributing 12 points apiece. The Bulldogs welcome Carson-Newman to town Jan. 9 for a 4 p.m. tip. The SAC Tournament champions won both meetings against Wingate last year, prevailing by 21 points in Jefferson City while hanging on for a 71-67 victory in Cuddy Arena. Xavier Griffin had 22 points in the home loss. The Eagles have now won four straight against Wingate, who had won eight of the previous nine meetings in the series.

The Bulldogs travel to Catawba Jan. 13 at 8 p.m. Wingate won 80-74 in Salisbury last year, getting 18 points and six rebounds from Cureton. The 'Dogs prevailed 65-54 in Cuddy Arena, thanks to Keith Griffin's 16-point, 10-rebound effort. Wingate has won 10 of its last 11 against the Indians. The Bulldogs are at Anderson Jan. 16. Keith Griffin's game-winner in the final seconds gave Wingate a 59-57 road victory last year. The Trojans won 76-73 in Cuddy Arena last season, despite Xavier Griffin's 15-point, six-assist effort. The Bulldogs have won four of their last five against Anderson.

Wingate hosts Queens Jan. 20 at 8 p.m. The Bulldogs swept the regular season series last year, but the Royals won in the SAC Tournament opener. Xavier Griffin and Keith Griffin had 16 points apiece in the road win, while a Keith Griffin tip-in in the final seconds sealed the home win. The Queens contest opens a three-game home stand, which also includes games against Mars Hill and Lenoir-Rhyne.

A two-game road trip includes contests at Tusculum on Jan. 30 and Newberry Feb. 3. Wingate hosts Lincoln Memorial Feb. 6 at 4 p.m., then travels to Queens Feb. 10 at 8 p.m. Wingate hosts Brevard Feb. 13 before playing road games at Coker (Feb. 17) and Carson-Newman (Feb. 20). The Bulldogs close out the regular season with two home games. Wingate hosts Catawba Feb. 24 at 8 p.m., while the regular season wraps up in Cuddy Arena Feb. 27 against Anderson at 4 p.m.

The opening round of the 2015 SAC Tournament will be Wednesday, March 2 at the site of the higher seed. The SAC Tournament semifinals and championship game will take place at Timmons Arena in Greenville, S.C. The semifinals are Saturday, March 5, while the championship game is Sunday, March 6.

The NCAA Southeast Region Tournament will take place March 12-15, while the NCAA Division II Elite Eight will be March 23-26.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
Wingate University, consistently ranked as a top 10 "best value" in the South by U.S. News & World Report, serves more than 3,100 students on three campuses in Wingate, Charlotte and Hendersonville, N.C. Founded in 1896, the University offers 35 undergraduate majors, 37 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, master's degrees in business, accounting, education, physician assistant studies and sport management and doctorates in pharmacy, physical therapy and education.
 
With a 15 to 1 student/teacher ratio, Wingate students gain the tools and support needed to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. To view current news, video and story ideas, visit www.youtube.com/wingateuniversity. 
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past nine years. For more information, go to www.wingate.edu.
 
Wingate is first among NCAA Division II Academic All-America®-producing colleges in the 2000's with 77 selections. Among North Carolina's colleges and universities, Wingate's 77 Academic All-America® honorees are number one during this millennium. Wingate's 86 lifetime Academic All-America® picks are tops among all SAC schools. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com.