WINGATE, N.C. --- Donnell Nixon poured in a team-high 18 points to pace league-leading Wingate University to an 87-78 South Atlantic Conference men's basketball win over Tusculum University Saturday afternoon at Cuddy Arena.
The Bulldogs (10-3, 5-0 SAC) remained one of two undefeated SAC teams in conference play while recording their sixth consecutive victory.
In a physical game which featured 52 combined fouls including 30 by the Pioneers (4-8, 2-4 SAC) as Wingate took advantage going 31-for-38 from the free throw line (82%). Tusculum shot a respectable 76 percent from the foul line as TU went 16-of-21 from the charity stripe.
Tusculum senior Connor Jordan posted a career-best 25 points with 21 of those coming in the second half. KJ Crump added 14 points, Bryce Jackson 13 points and TJ Printup notched a dozen in his first collegiate start.
Nixon went 12-of-13 from the free throw line, while tallying seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. Vontrez Roberts contributed 15 points and seven boards, while Josh Massey accounted for 12 markers in the win.
Wingate finished the game shooting 50 percent from the floor including 16-of-29 in the final period (55.2%). Tusculum ended the contest going 27-of-67 from the field (40%) including 8-of-22 from three-point territory (36%).
Tusculum edged the Bulldogs 40-34 on the boards including 19-11 on the offensive glass. But TU would only score 15 second-chance points while Wingate dominated paint scoring (46-28) and fast-break points (18-4).
The first period saw five lead changes and three ties as the Bulldogs carried a 36-30 lead into the locker room. Wingate used a key 12-4 run to take the lead in the opening half.
The Pioneers trimmed the deficit to five at 38-33 following a triple from Printup and later cut the WU lead to 40-37 following a Jackson layup with 15:24 to go.
Wingate went on a 12-2 run over the next 3:21 to extend the lead to 52-39 with 12:03 on the clock. WU would also get a 10-3 spurt to take its largest lead of the game at 71-51 with 6:04 remaining.
The Pioneers would chip away at the deficit and got to within 81-71 following a Jordan three-pointer with 1:32 remaining. But the Bulldogs would make six straight free throws down the stretch to end the game making 13 in a row.
Tusculum's Akeem Odusipe led all players with 12 rebounds before he fouled out in the second half.
After playing its last four on the road, Tusculum returns home next Saturday to face Limestone University to begin a three-game home-stand. Next weekend's game with the Saints tips off at 4 p.m. from Pioneer Arena.
