Charlotte, N.C. ? The Limestone College Men?s Basketball Team (1-0) opened its season with a 72-70 win over Lenoir-Rhyne University (1-1) Friday evening in the Queens Tip-Off Classic at Ovens Athletic Center.? The Bears lost despite a career-high 31 points from junior forward D.J. Blackmon (Albemarle, N.C.).

Limestone?s Jarrell Douglass (Leesburg, Fla.) led the way with a double-double, 22 points and 11 rebounds, and hit the game-winning shot while Danny Friend (Morrow, Ga.) added 14 points in the victory.

The Bears also received a 20-point performance from senior guard Marcus Hodges (Wake Forest, N.C.) in the losing effort.

The Saints built a 56-45 lead, their largest of the contest, with 8:01 remaining on a lay-up by Anthony Middleton (Holly Hill, S.C.) but the Bears battled back to tie the contest at 68 on a three-point play by Blackmon with 51 seconds left.

However, Limestone responded with a lay-up by Douglass that proved to be the game-winner at the 0:37 mark of the second half.? The Bears failed to score on their next two possessions and the Saints sank two free throws to close out the scoring and were able to hold on for the win.

Limestone also held a 46-32 advantage in rebounds and limited Lenoir-Rhyne to just 39 percent shooting (26-of-66) for the game.

Lenoir-Rhyne plays Queens on the second day of the classic on Saturday beginning at 7:30 p.m., while Limestone faces Wingate at 5:30 p.m.