Hickory, N.C. – The Lenoir-Rhyne Men's Basketball Team picked up a huge exhibition victory over NCAA Division I-foe The Citadel, 97-83, Sunday afternoon at Shuford Memorial Gymnasium.  The Bears used a 61-point second half to key the victory.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 97, The Citadel 83
Records: Exhibition
Location: Shuford Memorial Gymnasium | Hickory, N.C.
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STATS OF THE MATCH:
•      Lenoir-Rhyne was led by junior forward Bertrand Awana (Yaounde, CAMEROON) with a double-double – 20 points and 13 rebounds (and five blocks) – while junior guard Cory Thomas (Louisville, Ky.) added 18 points off the bench.
•      Lenoir-Rhyne rallied from a 13-point first half deficit – 35-22 with 4:03 left in the first half – to take the victory.  The Bears also shot 69 percent (22-of-32) after halftime and hit seven of their 10 treys in the second half.
•      Five players scored in double figures for Lenoir-Rhyne including senior guard Reed Lucas (Greensboro, N.C.), who totaled 10 points and dished out a game-high six assists.
•      The Citadel hit 16 three-pointers despite the loss.
•      The Bulldogs also had five players in double figures and were led by Matt Frierson (Laurel, Md.) with 21 points on seven treys.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
•      Lenoir-Rhyne came close two years ago against an NCAA Division I school in an exhibition.  The Bears fell in double overtime to Clemson, 87-84, in Greenville, S.C., on Thursday, November 5, 2015.

UP NEXT:
Lenoir-Rhyne opens the 2017-18 campaign on Friday, November 10, in the South Atlantic Conference/Peach Belt Conference Challenge against UNC Pembroke in Pembroke, N.C., beginning at 3:00 p.m.  The Citadel hosts Coker on Friday, November 3, in another exhibition at 7:00 p.m.