NEWBERRY, SC - Down eight with 7:43 remaining in the game, the Lenoir-Rhyne Men's Basketball team used a Junior Hodnett three pointer to spark a 9-0 run that would eventually lead to an 83-78 win over Newberry. This marks the first South Atlantic Conference win for head coach Brent Owen and his Bears. LR was led by a big double double from 7-2 center Conrad Luczynski, who finished with 19 points and 14 boards.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 81, Newberry 78
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne 3-2 (1-1 SAC), Newberry 2-2 (0-1 SAC)
Location: Newberry, SC | Eleazer Arena

STATS OF THE MATCH:

• Tay Smith and Sam Martin each made early buckets to go up 5-0.
• With 13:52 remaining in the half the Wolves took the lead, holding on to it until the 6:46 mark when another Smith three gave LR a 25-24 advantage.
• The teams traded buckets over the next few minutes, but layups from Hantz Louis-Jeune and Ziare Wells, as well as a a tip in at the buzzer by Conrad Luczynski, gave LR a 43-37 lead at the break.
• Lenoir-Rhyne held a slim lead for much of the start of the second half, until a 10-3 Wolves run put the home side up eight.
• Two straight buckets from Junior Hodnett and Jaheim Taylor sparked a 9-0 run.
• Newberry re-took the lead, but a tip in by Louis-Jeune with 1:31 left put the Bears up for good.
• Lenoir-Rhyne sealed it with two blocks from Luczynski and free throws from Louis-Jeune and Wells.
• Ziare Wells led the way with 23 points, followed by Conrad Luczynski (19) and Hant Louis-Jeune (13).
• Luczynski stuffed the stat sheet, also finishing with 14 boards, four assists, and three blocks.
• The Bears shot 28-57 (49.1%) from the field and 5-15 (33.3%) from three. 
• LR's perimeter defense was solid, holding the Wolves to a 6-25 (24%) clip from behind the arc.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Just like the LR women, the Lenoir-Rhyne men lead the series 36-28 over the Wolves.
• This was Lenoir-Rhyne's first win over Newberry since an 84-61 victory in Hickory on December 14, 2022.
• Luczynski's double double was the first for a Bear since Chase Mebane had 10 points and 12 boards against Southern Wesleyan on November 25, 2023.

UP NEXT: Lenoir-Rhyne will continue their road trip to open the season on Saturday as they head to Emory, Virginia, to take on the Emory & Henry Wasps. E&H currently sits at 2-3 on the year and dropped a close 72-69 game against UVA Wise earlier tonight. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.