HICKORY, N.C. – R.J. Gunn scored a season-high 28 points and went 12-of-22 from the field but Lenoir-Rhyne dropped its third straight game in a 78-67 outcome at Tusculum. Lenoir-Rhyne went up 58-47 with 8:07 to play but Tusculum closed out the game on a 31-9 run to swipe the victory. 

GAME INFORMATION:
Final: Tusculum 78, Lenoir-Rhyne 67
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (8-6, 8-6 SAC) | Tusculum (12-4, 12-4 SAC)
Location: Pioneer Arena

STATS AND INFO:
- Lenoir-Rhyne came in needing a win to secure a top five seed and a bye in the first round of the conference tournament.
- Tusculum has now won six straight games including a 16 point win over #7 Lincoln Memorial a week ago.
-  Gunn's previous season-high was 24 against UVA Wise on Feb. 17.
-  Gunn's career-high came a season ago when he dropped 26 at Clayton St.
- The Pioneers 47 rebounds were the second highest total all season.

FIRST HALF:
- Gunn had 14 of the Bears 31 first half points and was 6-of-11 from the floor.
- James West had the answer for the hosts as he had 14 points and was 6-of-9 from the field and 2-of-4 from long range.
- The Bears trailed by as many as eight in the first half but shaved the Tusculum lead to 34-31 going into the break.

SECOND HALF:
- West came into the game hitting at least four three pointers in each of his previous four games and was over 50 percent from deep in all four games but the Bears limited him to 0-of-3 in the half and 2-of-7 on the game.
- After going up 11 at the 8:07 mark, the Bears were held without a field goal for 6:17 on the clock as Tusculum surged ahead.
- Over a crucial six minute stretch, the Pioneers outscored LR 21-2.

ABOUT THE BEARS:
- Gunn added eight boards for the second straight game.
- Davion Bradford's final stat line was five points, eight rebounds and five assists.
- Darius Simmons had 14 points but was just 4-of-16 from the field.

NOTABLE PIONEERS:
- Five players scored in double figures for Tusculum, led by 18 by West.
- Trenton Gibson had 17 points and 12 boards to go with five assists.
- Keaston Brown and Inady Legiste came off the bench to score 13 and 10 points respectively.

UP NEXT: LR will receive a bye in first round of SAC tournament and will travel to Newberry on Monday for Quarterfinal action.