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LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY

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Sports Release                                                                                             January 31, 2007

Wingate Defeats Lincoln Memorial 89-86 In SAC Action

WINGATE, NC -- The Wingate University men’s basketball team defeated Lincoln Memorial University 89-86 in a South Atlantic Conference match-up in Cuddy Arena on the campus of Wingate University Wednesday night. With the win, Wingate moves to 14-5 overall and 7-2 in the SAC. LMU falls to 11-8 overall and 5-4 in the SAC. (Box score)

Wingate junior guard/forward Sean Barnette (Rock Hill, S.C.) led the Wingate offense with 25 points. Barnette also recorded three blocked shots. Wingate senior guard Justin Baker (Lumberton, N.C.) notched 17 points, four rebounds and three steals for the Bulldogs.
 
Bulldog senior point guard Bill Smith (Manasquan, N.J.) contributed 15 points and a game-high seven assists. Senior guard Shaun Kirkland (Allendale, S.C.) had 12 points and Wingate team-highs in both rebounds (seven) and steals (four). Wingate redshirt junior forward Bryan Grier (Charlotte, N.C.) contributed nine points, six rebounds and two blocks for the hosts.
 
LMU freshman guard Beau Brown (Athens, Tenn.) led the Railsplitters with a game-high 28 points. Brown also had five rebounds. Lincoln Memorial senior forward Artavius Mitchell (Chicago, Ill.) had a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
 
The ‘Dogs built an 11-point advantage (57-46) on an inside hoop by sophomore forward Kenny Villines (Fayetteville, N.C.) with 13:51 to play. The Railsplitters rallied, as junior forward Dominique Petty (Metropolis, Ind.) hit three-point field goals on back-to-back possessions to cut the Wingate lead to 67-66 with 8:50 remaining.
 
The Railsplitters took advantage of three-pointers by senior guard David Lopez (Tucson, Ariz.) and Brown to take an 80-76 lead with 4:02 left in regulation. Smith hit two free throws and a three-pointer to tie the contest at 81-81 with 3:21 to go.
 
Brown hit a jumper to make it 83-81, then Baker tied it on a feed from Smith on the next possession. After an LMU miss, a lay-up by Barnette at the 1:57 mark gave Wingate the lead for good at 85-83. Barnette made a jumper in the paint to make it 87-83.
 
Lopez hit a three-pointer at 1:09 to cut the LMU deficit to 87-86. Barnette hit one free throw with 27 seconds remaining to give Wingate a two-point lead. The Railsplitters had two chances to tie (or win) in the waning moments, but could not convert. Baker added a free throw with three seconds left for the final margin.
 
Wingate led 41-35 at the break. Barnette led all scorers with 12 first-half points. Barnette was two-of-three from three-point range and a five-of-eight from the field. For LMU, Brown led the Railsplitters at intermission with 10 first-half points.
 
Wingate travels to SAC opponent and geographical rival Catawba College on Saturday afternoon for a 4 p.m. tip-off. Lincoln Memorial will next take the court when the Railsplitters travel to SAC foe Tusculum College on Saturday (4 p.m.).

-LMU-

For additional comments please contact,
Men's Head Coach: Hugh Watson
Phone: (423) 869-6240