Hickory, N.C. – The Lenoir-Rhyne Men's Basketball Team (7-8, 6-4) connected on 19 free throws in the second half and pulled away late to defeat Mars Hill (3-13, 1-9), 84-74, in a South Atlantic Conference game Saturday afternoon inside Shuford Memorial Gymnasium.

Five players scored in double figures – led by senior guard Darrion Evans (Morganton, N.C.) with 18 points – to lead the Bears to the win.

Lenoir-Rhyne senior guard JacQues Chambers (Maysville, N.C.) finished with a tremendous double-double – 14 points and 17 rebounds – and the Bears hit 24-of-30 free throw attempts including 12 in the final 1:37 of the contest to take the win.

Mars Hill, losers of nine straight games, was led by Valentin Bauer (Klosternueburg, Austria) with 16 points off the bench in the setback.  Vernon Jackson (Savannah, Ga.) added 11 points for the Lions, who did hold a 43-37 edge on the boards.

The contest featured 10 ties and 12 lead changes but the Bears ended the game on a 16-7 run over the final 2:28 of regulation.  Lenoir-Rhyne junior guard Reed Lucas (Greensboro, N.C.) added 13 points and the Bears hit 10 treys in the win.

Lenoir-Rhyne hits the road again to face Coker in a South Atlantic Conference game on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m., in Hartsville, S.C., while Mars Hill returns home to face Brevard.  The Lions and Tornados tip off at 8:00 p.m., on Wednesday night at well.