Hickory, N.C. - The Lenoir-Rhyne Men's Basketball Team (17-6, 10-5) survived a furious rally by Tusculum (6-17, 4-11) en route to an 80-68 win in South Atlantic Conference action Wednesday night at Shuford Gymnasium.

L-R sophomore guard Denzel Dillingham (Hickory, N.C.) led three players in double figures with 17 points as the Bears swept the season series from the Pioneers.

Lenoir-Rhyne junior guards R.J. McClure (Canton, N.C.) and Jarvis Perry (Willingboro, N.J.) added 16 points each as the Bears won their third straight contest.

Darius Carter (Cascade, Va.) led all scorers with 19 points for Tusculum, who cut a 24-point deficit to two in the second half?despite the loss.

Lenoir-Rhyne rolled to a 54-30 lead early in the second half but Tusculum stormed back to cut the margin to 65-63 on a pair of free throws by Carter with 4:22 left.

However, L-R regrouped and ended the contest with a victory margin in double digits thanks to its 20-of-25 performance (80 percent) from the charity stripe.

Lenoir-Rhyne held the edge in rebounding (44-31) and limited Tusculum to just 33 percent shooting (four-of-12) from behind the three-point line in the victory as well.

Tusculum's Nick Spinks (Greensboro, N.C.) added 15 points and Keith Jumper (Lexington, S.C.) scored 14 points in the losing effort.

Lenoir-Rhyne faces Lincoln Memorial in its next contest on Saturday night at 8:00 p.m., in Harrogate, Tenn.? Tusculum plays at Mars Hill on Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m., in Mars Hill, N.C.