Mars Hill, N.C. - The Mars Hill College Men's Basketball Team (4-2, 1-0) opened South Atlantic Conference play with an 86-74 win over Lenoir-Rhyne University (1-5, 0-1) Saturday afternoon at Stanford Arena.

The Lions' Donterious Hughes (Gastonia, N.C.) led all scorers with 24 points while Sammy Emile (Lake Worth, Fla.) added 21 points en route to the win.

Both Hughes and Emile connected on four three-pointers as Mars Hill hit 10 treys including eight in the first half in the victory.

Junior forward Jeff Thomas (Chapel Hill, N.C.) led the Bears with a career-high 18 points while freshman guards Allan Jones (Clemmons, N.C.) and Bryce Hawkins (Charlotte, N.C.) scored 14 points each in the loss.

The Lions were holding a 63-59 advantage after a free throw by Thomas with 8:27 remaining before putting together an 8-2 run over the next two-and-a-half minutes for a 71-61 advantage.? The Bears couldn't get any closer than seven points the rest of the way.

Mars Hill shot 57 percent (29-of-51) for the contest including 67 percent (18-of-27) in the second half.? Lenoir-Rhyne held a 37-32 advantage on the boards despite suffering its fourth straight defeat.

Lenoir-Rhyne hosts Augusta State on Wednesday, December 15, at 4 p.m., while Mars Hill?remains at home to face?Shaw on Tuesday beginning at 7 p.m.