HICKORY, N.C. – A Jalen Johnson 3-pointer at the buzzer didn't fall as Anderson came away with a narrow victory inside Shuford Gym on Wednesday night. The loss is the fourth straight for the Bears and second straight home defeat by one possession.  

GAME INFORMATION:
Final: Anderson 77, Lenoir-Rhyne 74
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (3-6, 2-4 SAC) I Anderson (6-5, 4-5 SAC)
Location: Shuford Gymnasium

STATS AND INFO:
- The Bears hit a season-high 21 free throws and converted at a 91.3 percent clip
- This was the fourth game this season that has been decided by three points or less for LR this season
- LR turned the ball over a season-high 14 times
- The Bears are stuck on 295 all-time wins in South Atlantic Conference play

FIRST HALF:
- Anderson was scorching in the first half, misfiring on just nine of their 29 attempts
- The Trojans 69 percent shooting led them to a 48-41 halftime lead for the visitors
- Parker Dortch was a perfect 7-for-7 from the field in the first half and had a game-high 14 points
- Despite shooting 41.9 percent, 28 percentage points lower than Anderson, the Bears stayed close with a balanced attack
- Johnson had nine points and was one of six LR players with at least five points
- Lenoir-Rhyne hit 7-of-14 from long range

SECOND HALF:
- LR held Anderson to 37 percent shooting in the second half and 0-for-7 from long range
- The Bears also went 0-for-7 from deep in the final 20 minutes
- The game was called tightly in the second half as the teams combined for 24 fouls
- LR faced a 68-57 deficit with 8:57 to play but cut it to 75-72 with three minutes to play
- Dortch made a bucket in the lane with 2:33 to play to put Anderson up 77-72 which proved to be the last made field goal of the game for either squad
- Johnson hit a pair of free throws with 57 seconds to play and the Bears came up with a stop on the defensive end
- After an LR timeout, the Bears had a chance to tie it and send it to overtime but a 3-point attempt wouldn't fall

ABOUT THE BEARS:
- Johnson led LR with 17 points and TJ Nesmith added 15
- Salle Wilson finished with 12 points on 3-of-7 shooting and added 5-of-6 from the free-throw line
- Malik LeGania totaled 11 points and a career-high seven boards

NOTABLE TROJANS:
- Dortch finished with a game-high 21 points on 10-of-13 shooting despite playing much of the second half with four fouls
- Crosby James added 16 points, four rebounds and four assists
- Quin Nottnigham had 12 points and seven assists

UP NEXT: The Bears continue a four-game home stand with a Saturday matchup against Newberry. Tip is set for 4 p.m.