CLINTON, S.C. - Presbyterian College senior Johann Collins (Raleigh, N.C.) scored a game-high 24 points to lead five players in double figures en route to a 80-73 victory over the Wingate University Bulldogs in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action Wednesday night in the Ross E. Templeton Center. With the win, the Blue Hose improve to 19-6 overall (7-2 SAC), while Wingate falls to 11-10 (4-5 SAC) on the season.

The Blue Hose used a 14-2 run midway through the first half to pull ahead 27-18 on a pair of free throws from Collins at the 8:58 mark. The Blue Hose lead increased to as many as 11 points at 34-23 at the 4:42 mark on a three-pointer by sophomore Pat Kiscaden (Oviedo, Fla.). Wingate trimmed the lead to 41-32 on a jumper by sophomore Sean Barnette (Rock Hill, S.C.), but Collins responded with a basket of his own to give PC a 41-32 lead at intermission.

Both teams shot the ball well in the first half as the Bulldogs were 48.0% from the floor and led by junior Justin Baker's (Lumberton, N.C.) 10 points, while the Blue Hose were 45.2% from the floor and were led by Collins' 10 points. Wingate struggled at the charity stripe hitting six-of-17 free throw attempts, for 35.3%. The Blue Hose were seven-of-10 from the line and held a 24-14 advantage on the backboards in the first half.

In the second half, the Blue Hose pushed the lead to its largest margin of 14 points at 47-33 on a layup by Collins with 16:11 remaining. The Bulldogs responded with a 13-5 run to trim the lead to 52-46 with 13:36 remaining. Baker sparked the Wingate run with five straight points. After PC extended the lead to 60-51 with 11:06 remaining, the Bulldogs used 15-3 run over the next five minutes to retake the lead at 66-64 on a basket by Baker with only 6:33 remaining in the game.

The lead changed hands two more times over the next two minutes until Collins' layup gave PC the lead for good at 68-67 with 4:47 remaining. The Blue Hose closed the game on a 12-6 run with PC's senior Tray Ballenger (Wellford, S.C.) scoring six points during the run including scoring his 1000th career point.

Collins led the Blue Hose with 24 points and nine boards on 11-of-16 shooting, while junior Sean Dixon (Marietta, Ga.) added 12 points and three assists. Ballenger and freshman Bryan Bostic (Norcross, Ga.) with 11 points apiece and junior Grant Herren (Oviedo, Fla.) added 10 points and six boards.

Wingate was led by Baker's game-high 25 points, while sophomore Brian Grier (Charlotte, N.C.) tallied eight points, seven rebounds, and tied a career-high with nine blocks.

The Blue Hose return to action on Saturday, February 11 with a trip to Jefferson City, Tenn. to take on Carson-Newman College at 8:00 pm, while Wingate travels to Newberry, S.C. to face the Indians at 4:00 pm.