Salisbury, N.C. – The Lenoir-Rhyne University Men's Basketball Team (2-1, 1-0) opened South Atlantic Conference play with a thrilling, 106-98 victory in double overtime over Catawba (2-1, 0-1) Wednesday evening at Goodman Gymnasium.

Senior guard Darrion Evans (Morganton, N.C.) came off the bench to score a team-high 25 points while junior guard Billy Bales (Elizabethton, Tenn.) added 20 points and six treys as the Bears rallied from a 14-point deficit – 62-48 with 7:56 left in the second half – to force overtime and eventually take the win.

Catawba's Jameel Taylor (Anderson, S.C.) led all scorers with 29 points while K.J. Arrington (Newport News, Va.) added a double-double – 23 points and 13 rebounds – as the Indians suffered their first loss of the year.

Arrington hit a jump shot as the clock expired in the second half to force overtime with the contest tied at 78 before Evans forced the game into a second overtime with a pair of free throws with six seconds left.

In the second extra stanza, the Bears used a 9-0 run and hit eight free throws in the frame to pull away with the win.

Lenoir-Rhyne freshman guard Jalen Variste (Baton Rouge, La.) added 19 points and senior forward JacQues Chambers (Maysville, N.C.) finished with eight points and a game-high 16 rebounds as the Bears won their second straight game.

Catawba's Jerrin Morrison (Charlotte, N.C.) also tallied a double-double – 20 points and 13 rebounds – but the Indians hit just seven-of-32 three-point attempts (22 percent) and turned the ball over 19 times in the loss.

Lenoir-Rhyne remains on the road to face Wingate on Tuesday, November 22, at 6:00 p.m., in Wingate, N.C., while Catawba hosts Belmont Abbey Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.