Lions fall in first round of SAC Championships versus Wingate
The Mars Hill men's basketball team's (2-18) season came to a close on Saturday afternoon in opening round play of the 2021 SAC Piloy Flying J Men's Basketball Championship, falling to Wingate (11-8) by a score of 104-83.
WINGATE, N.C. - The Mars Hill men's basketball team's (2-18) season came to a close on Saturday afternoon in opening round play of the 2021 SAC Piloy Flying J Men's Basketball Championship, falling to Wingate (11-8) by a score of 104-83.
Mars Hill opened the contest on a 5-2 run and built their lead to 13-9 following a Austin Gilyard three-pointer with 14:39 remaining in the first half. Another Gilyard three with 10:03 to play in the first saw the Lions lead escalate to 21-16.
A Wingate 6-0 run puts the Bulldogs up 22-21. Miguel Priest hit both three-point attempts in the run. Mars Hill responded with a 4-0 run, but another three from Wingate, from the hands of Andreas Wilson, tied the contest at 25.
Wingate closed out the half on a 22-4 run over the final 6:49 of the half to enter the second up 44-29.
Kendrick Tucker led the Bulldogs with 12 points in the frame followed by eight apiece from Priest and Jarren Cottingham. Gilyard led the Lions with 13 points, hitting 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.
The teams exploded offensively in the second half, combining for 114 points. Wingate shot over 63 percent from the floor compared to Mars Hill's 56 percent. Both teams shot over 47 percent from beyond the arc with the Lions hitting 11 attempts to Wingate's nine.
Javonte Cooke led all players with 19 points in the half while Reggie Wrigth and Trey Belin each added 11 points apiece, combining to go 6-of-9 from three-point range. Cottingham led the Bulldogs with 16 points while Wilson and Priest added 12 points apiece.
Cottingham led all players with 24 points while adding five assists and three steals. Priest netted 20 while pulling down seven rebounds. Wilson hit six three's for 18 points.
Cooke paced the Lions' offense with 23 points and cemented a solid overall outing with seven rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and one steal. Wright closed out the contest with 14. Gilyard ended the day with 13.
The Lions close out the season with a 2-18 record.
