HICKORY, N.C.  – Before a winter storm headed for the area, the Lenoir-Rhyne Men's Basketball Team dropped a tough contest to Carson-Newman in SAC play on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles had four players score in double figures and erased an eight point second half deficit to win. 

GAME INFORMATION:
Final: Carson-Newman 73, Lenoir-Rhyne 65
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (4-12, 3-10 SAC) I Carson-Newman (11-5, 8-4 SAC)
Location: Shuford Gymnasium

STATS AND INFO:
- LR has dropped four straight to Carson-Newman
- Carson-Newman is the seventh-most played rival in LR history and this was the 71st meeting between the programs
- This was the sixth time this season that LR scored in the 60s and dropped to 1-5 in those games
- This is only the ninth loss to the Eagles in Shuford Gym in 33 games

FIRST HALF:
- For the eighth time this season, Lenoir-Rhyne ended the first half with the lead
- The Bears held a narrow 35-34 edge over Carson-Newman
- TJ Nesmith had 11 first half points for LR 
- Tim Steele hit two of LR's five three pointers in the first half
- Carson-Newman had a balanced attack with four players scoring at least four points

SECOND HALF:
- Nas Tyson opened the second half with seven points on three made field goals with two being assisted by Jalen Johnson
- Salle Wilson's jumper with 17:35 to go put the Bears up 44-36, their largest lead of the game
- However, LR would go without a field goal for 6:25 as Carson-Newman used a 16-4 spurt to grab the lead which they wouldn't give back
- All told, it was a 23-4 run for the Eagles to take a double-digit lead at 59-48
- Ren Dyer had 12 points and seven boards in the second half alone and Tripp Davis had 11 points in the final 20 minutes
- Carson-Newman would push the lead to as much as 14 in the second half 

ABOUT THE BEARS:
- Nas Tyson had a game-high and career-high 21 points topping his previous best of 18 points
- Tyson was 9-of-13 from the field and added four boards
- TJ Nesmith had 18 points and missed just one shot from the field in the game
- Jalen Johnson tied a career-high with seven assists

NOTABLE EAGLES:
- Dyer would finish with a double-double with 15 points and 10 boards
- Davis led the Eagles with 17 points and added five rebounds and four assists to go with three steals
- EJ Bush had 12 points and Luke Brenegen chipped in 10

UP NEXT: The Bears return to action on Wednesday when they hit the road to take on Wingate at 7:30 p.m.