HICKORY, N.C. -- The Lenoir-Rhyne Men's Basketball Team opened up the home slate of the 2023-24 schedule with a non-conference win over Mount Olive on Wednesday night. The Bears opened the season with five straight on the road before coming home for the first time. Sam Martin had a career-best 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting for LR. 

GAME INFORMATION:
Final:  Lenoir-Rhyne 81, Mount Olive 73
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (4-2), Mount Olive (1-6)
Location: Hickory, N.C. | Shuford Arena

STATS OF THE GAME:
- Chase Mebane was a force Lenoir-Rhyne, scoring a game-high 18 points and went 8-for-9 from the field.
- Martin came off the bench for his 16 points in 27 minutes. This was just the second game for Martin who scored two points against SWU.
- The freshman added five blocks and eight rebounds.
- Nas Tyson had 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting and had six rebounds with five coming on the offensive end.
- LR went 17-for-26 in the second half, converting on 65.3 percent to seal the victory.
- Four Mount Olive starters scored in double figures with the fifth starter scoring nine. 
- The Trojans led 33-25 in the first half but the Bears would close the half on a 11-2 spurt to take a 36-35 lead into the break. Jaquias Franklin's three with 17 seconds left put LR up by one, a lead they would never give back.
- The lead swelled to as much as 14 in the second half.
 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE: 
- Five of the first six games this year have come against Conference Carolinas opponents. LR is 3-2 in those games. 
- The Bears avenged last year's loss at Mount Olive over Thanksgiving break. 
- The Bears are 9-6 all-time against the Trojans.
- This is the latest home opener since 2012 when LR opened at home on Dec. 1. 

UP NEXT:  LR will hit the road for the SAC opener when they travel to Catawba for a 7:30 p.m tipoff.