Wingate Outlasts Catawba In Overtime In NCAA Regional Tournament

AUGUSTA, Ga.----The Wingate University men's basketball team outlasted Catawba College 79-76 in overtime Saturday afternoon in the first round of the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regional tournament in Christenberry Fieldhouse on the campus of Augusta State University.

The defending South Atlantic Regional champions, Wingate improves to 24-6 overall. Catawba concludes the 2007-08 campaign 19-12 overall. The Bulldogs will face the winner of the Johnson C. Smith/Augusta State contest in the semi-finals Sunday afternoon at 5 p.m.

Wingate All-American senior forward/guard Sean Barnette (Rock Hill, S.C.) made a hoop to tie the game at 65-65 and send the contest to overtime. In the extra frame, Bulldog senior guard Sam Holmes (Danville, Va.) hit two big three-point field goals and junior guard Rosco Turner (Lexington, N.C.) hit another trifecta as Wingate built a 78-72 lead.

Catawba whittled away at the lead, cutting the margin to two (78-76) on a Cliff Burns free throw with 24 seconds remaining. Barnette hit one of two charity tosses with seven seconds to go, giving Wingate its final 79-76 margin. A Catawba Indian three-point try at the buzzer missed, giving Wingate the victory.