Mount Olive, N.C. - The Lenoir-Rhyne Men's Basketball Team (4-0) has started the year with four straight wins for the first time in 21 seasons after defeating West Virginia State (2-2), 64-51, Saturday evening on the final day of the Pickle Classic in Kornegay Arena.

L-R sophomore guard Denzel Dillingham (Hickory, N.C.) led all scorers with 21 points while junior guard Jarvis Perry (Willingboro, N.J.) added 16 points as the Bears remained perfect on the season.

West Virginia State's Anton Hutchins (Lima, Ohio) and David Ford (Glen Burnie, Md.) each scored 11 points in the loss for the Yellow Jackets.

L-R held a 40-38 lead with 9:14 remaining in the second half before taking control with a 14-3 run capped off by a pair of free throws from junior center Matt Kunz (Kernersville, N.C.) with just over three minutes left.

Kunz was the third player to score in double figures for Lenoir-Rhyne, finishing with 12 points while senior forward B.J. Beasley (Charlotte, N.C.) tallied seven points and a game-high 10 rebounds in the victory.

The Bears also held the Yellow Jackets to just 27 percent shooting (16-of-59) for the game and forced West Virginia State into 15 turnovers.

Lenoir-Rhyne will play Winthrop, an NCAA Division I school, in an exhibition on Tuesday, November 20, at 7:00 p.m., in Rock Hill, S.C.? West Virginia State, meanwhile, plays Seton Hill in a West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., in Greensburg, Pa.