FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11-20-04

Men's College Basketball: Wingate 79, AASU 59

Release Courtesy of Wingate Sports Information

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Wingate University forward Gary Marsh (Lillington, N.C.) had 14 points and 18 rebounds as the Bulldogs topped Armstrong Atlantic State University 79-59 in NCAA Division II men’s basketball action Saturday night in Cuddy Arena on the Wingate campus.

Pre-season All-South Atlantic Conference forward Ahmad Richardson (Havelock, N.C.) netted a game-high 23 points for Wingate (1-1 overall), while sophomore guard Ernest Mangum (New London, N.C.) added 12 points off the bench. Wingate travels to Livingstone College Tuesday night for a 7:30 p.m. contest.

Armstrong Atlantic State senior guard Lorenzo Lawrence led the Pirates (1-1 overall) with 15 points. AASU sophomore forward Bryan Taylor recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while junior forward Kenny Brown pitched in 11 markers in a reserve role.

Wingate extended a six-point halftime lead to 64-45 when Mangum hit a long-range jumper with 10:29 remaining in the contest. The 20-point final margin was Wingate’s largest of the evening.

The Bulldogs shot 50 percent (28-of-56) from the floor. AASU could manage only 34.4 percent (22-of-64) from the field. Thanks to Marsh’s monster rebounding effort, Wingate outrebounded Armstrong Atlantic 46-35.

In the first half, AASU sprinted to a touchdown lead when Lawrence hit a three-pointer to make it 14-7 Pirates with 14:34 remaining in the opening frame. Lawrence nailed another triple to make it 19-11 AASU with 12:22 to go in the first half. Lawrence netted 12 points in the opening frame.

Wingate hung tough, making a 14-5 run to take a 25-24 lead on two free throws by freshman forward Ryan Thys (Raleigh, N.C.). Thys hit two more charity tries at the 1:25 mark to give the Bulldogs a 41-35 halftime lead. Both Mangum and Richardson had 10 markers each for the Bulldogs in the first half.

-Pirates-