CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In their sixth NCAA Tournament appearance in program history, the Lenoir-Rhyne Men's Basketball Team lost to No. 3-seeded USC Aiken in the First Round of the Big Dance by a final score of 84-71 on Saturday afternoon. Cory Thomas led the team in scoring with 24 points as the Bears fell to the Pacers in the NCAA Tournament for the second time. 
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: USC Aiken 84 | Lenoir-Rhyne 71
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (21-11) | USC Aiken (27-5)
Location: Levine Center | Charlotte, N.C.

STATS OF THE GAME:
• The Bears trailed by as many as 23 in the second half but surged to within seven thanks to an outstanding effort from senior Cory Thomas. Thomas scored 22 of his 24 points in the second half, including 14 in the first 10 minutes to bring the Bears back. Despite picking up two early fouls and missing most of the first half, Thomas finished with a double-double in 24 minutes. The Louisville, Ky. native had 10 boards. 
• Bertrand Awana was a force on both ends of the court, finishing with six points, nine rebounds and five blocked shots. 
• The Bears couldn't contain All-Region player Xzavier Barmore who went off for 31 points on 12-of-22 shooting. Barmore went 3-of-7 from three and added five boards and four steals. Backcourt mate Ty'like Evans finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds. 
• LR was held to just 35.9 percent shooting on the game and 32 percent from long range. The Bears held a 45-43 advantage on the glass and each team finished with 28 points in the paint.  

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
• The Bears are now 3-6 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, with two of those wins coming in the 2015-16 season.  
• The 21 wins matches the highest total in the past 11 years. 
• In his two games in the Levine Center, Charlotte native Emmanuel Wembi was a perfect 9-for-9 from the field.  
 
UP NEXT:
The careers for Djibril Diallo, Jon Jean, Thomas, Filip Leskovar and Wembi came to a close with the loss. Leskovar appeared in the NCAA Tournament as both a freshmen and senior.