HICKORY, N.C. - TJ Nesmith scored a career-high 32 points and four Bears scored in double figures as Lenoir-Rhyne men's basketball earned its fourth win in a row 94-84 over Catawba on Wednesday night in Shuford Gym. The Bears shot a season-best 51.5% from the field and 20/22 from the free throw line to pull away from Catawba. 

GAME INFORMATION:
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 94, Catawba 84
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (7-14, 6-12 SAC) I Catawba (9-10, 8-9 SAC)
Location: Hickory, N.C. | Shuford Gymnasium

STATS AND INFO:
- This is the sixth straight game in the series that the winning team has scored at least 90 points in victory.
- Before tonight, Catawba had won two straight and three out of the last four in the series. 
- This is LR's first four-game winning streak since January 2020.
- Today's win was Coach Sullivan's 180th career win. 
- The Bears entered today's contest tied for 8th in a nation in turnovers per game, giving it away 10.1 times per game.
- These teams are the top two teams in the SAC for fewest turnovers. They both lived up to it tonight, with the Bears committing eight and the Indians committing nine. 

FIRST HALF:
- Both teams got off to hot shooting starts, with Caleb Robinson scoring the first 11 points for Catawba. Four different Bears (Nesmith, Kevin Kangu, Jalen Johnson and Nas Tyson) all scored during the quick start. The teams were tied at 11 at the first media timeout. 
- Neither team got much separation over the next few minutes. Catawba took a 24-19 lead right before the under 12 timeout on a three from Dre Nelson, who had four first-half threes.
- At one point the Catawba lead got up to eight at 29-21, but the Bears scored 10 in a row, capped off by a jumper by Tyson. 
- The rest of the first half was back-and-forth, with Nesmith capping off the half with a bucket to give the Bears a five point lead at 46-41 heading to the locker room. 

SECOND HALF:
- A bucket by Bernard Pelote cut the Bear lead down to two a minute and a half into the 2nd half, but then a dunk by Nesmith, a three from Kangu, and four free throws from Nesmith increased the lead to 12. 
- That's around where the lead stayed for the majority of the second half, and at one point it grew to 19 after a turnaround jumper by Nesmith with 6:48 remaining. 
- LR had 9 offensive rebounds in the second half.
- The two teams traded baskets for the final minutes, and the Bears made almost all their free throws down the stretch to finish with a double digit victory. 

ABOUT THE BEARS:
- This is the first time this season that LR shot over 50% from the field. 
- Nesmith's previous career high was 21 points, and that also came against Catawba in the first meeting back on Dec. 11. 
- Jalen Johnson added 20 points, including 9/9 from the free throw line. This was the second 20-point output in three games for Johnson. 
- Kangu had 14, and Nas Tyson finished with a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds. 

NOTABLE INDIANS:
- Bernard Pelote scored 26 points, including 22 in the second half. 
- Robinson added 20 points. 
- Nelson had 12 points, all on four first half threes. 

UP NEXT:  LR will head to Anderson on Saturday for 4 p.m. tip looking to extend its win streak to five games.