February 18, 2009

MARS HILL, N.C. - P.J. Gore (North Myrtle Beach, S.C.) pumped in a career-high 34 points for Mars Hill in a 94-77 victory over Wingate Wednesday night inside Stanford Arena. The Lions improve to 15-9 overall and 6-8 in the SAC. The Bulldogs drop to 11-13 overall and 7-6 in the SAC.

Mars Hill opened the game on a 10-3 run. Gore found Tony Blake (Canton, N.C.) streaking to the basket for a fastbreak layup with 17:09 left in the half to conclude the run. A Stoney Polite (Morganton, N.C.) three pointer increased the Lions' lead to nine points, 16-7, at the 15:01 mark.

Gore scored two straight buckets, including a breakaway dunk, to give Mars Hill a 20-9 lead with 13:44 left in the opening period.

A Larry Staley (Charlotte, N.C.) trey triggered a 12-0 Wingate run, and the Bulldogs took the lead 21-20 off a three pointer by DeMario Mattox (Rocky Mount, Va.), but Mars Hill regained the lead on the next possession with a trey by Gore.

Gore's three ignited a 12-2 scoring stretch. A layup by Akeene Coakley (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) with 6:20 left in the half made the score 32-23 in favor of the Lions.

Mars Hill built a double-digit lead, 40-30, off a Polite steal and fastbreak dish to Gore at the 2:40 mark.

The Lions led 44-36 at halftime. Gore recorded 18 points in the first frame.

Danny Sanders (Shelby, N.C.) hit the first two buckets of the second half for Mars Hill, giving the Lions a 48-38 advantage with 19:12 remaining in the game. A three-pointer by Chase Smith (Upper Marlboro, Md.) cut the deficit to 52-43, but the Lions stretched the game back out to 11 points, 58-47, with a Gore steal and fastbreak layup at the 15:19 mark.

Mars Hill increased its lead to 16 points, 69-53, off a drive and bucket by Sanders at the 11:52 mark. The Lions' lead swelled to as many as 24 points, 82-58, off a layup by Sanders with 5:52 left in the game.

The Bulldogs responded with an 8-0 run. A jumper by David Johnson (Durham, N.C.) with 3:57 to go in the game made the score 82-66 in favor of Mars Hill, but Wingate would get no closer.

Sanders finished with 20 points for Mars Hill. Polite had eight points off the bench.

Jamie Vaughn (McDonough, Ga.) led all Wingate scorers with 13 points. Tommy Coles (Danville, Va.) had 12 points.

Mars Hill will host North Greenville on Senior Day Saturday inside Stanford Arena. Tip-time is set for 2 p.m.

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