Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics

Ziare Wells
67
Wingate Win 0-4,0-3 SAC
81
Winner Lenoir-Rhyne LRU 5-2,3-1 SAC
Wingate Win
0-4,0-3 SAC
67
Final
81
Lenoir-Rhyne LRU
5-2,3-1 SAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Wingate Win 26 41 67
Lenoir-Rhyne LRU 34 47 81

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Joel Krenz, Assistant AD for Media and Communications

Bears shine in Shuford opener

HICKORY, NC - The Bears were worth the wait. After going on the road for their first six games of the season, the Lenoir-Rhyne Men's Basketball team showed out in their home opener, taking down Wingate by a score of 81-67. They were led yet again by Ziare Wells, who had 22 points and is now averaging 18.9 points on the young campaign. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 81, Wingate 67
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne 5-2 (3-1 SAC), Wingate 0-4 (0-3 SAC)
Location: Hickory, NC | Shuford Arena

STORY OF THE GAME:
  • The teams traded buckets early on before a Junior Hodnett three put the Bears up 16-9 eight minutes into the game.
  • Back-to-back dunks from Hantz Louis-Jeune and Sam Martin gave Lenoir-Rhyne a 32-15 lead with 5:11 remaining in the half.
  • Wingate closed on an 11-2 run to cut the lead to 34-26 at the break.
  • A Tay Smith jumper ignited a quick 7-0 Lenoir-Ryhne run early in the second half.
  • Ziare Wells put the Bears up 18 with a fastbreak dunk with 4:31 left in the game.
  • Wingate managed to cut the lead to eight, but the Bears hit their free throws late to seal the win.
STATS OF THE MATCH:
  • Ziare Wells led the Bears with 22 points on 8-18 shooting.
  • Hantz Louis-Jeune (15), Tay Smith (11), and Julian Dozier (11) joined Wells in double figures.
  • Julian Dozier led the team with six assists, while Sam Martin was tops with five blocks.
  • Lenoir-Rhyne shot 29-59 (49.2%) from the field and 8-21 (38.1%) from three. 
  • Wingate was just 23-67 (34.3%) from the field and 6-21 (28.6%) from three. 
  • Both teams went 15-18 from the free throw line.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
  • Sam Martin's five blocks ties a career high. 
  • Ziare Wells has led the Bears in scoring in all but two games this season.
  • The Bears are now 46-33 all-time against the Bulldogs and have won three of the last four.
  • This is Lenoir-Rhyne's best start to a season since the 2020-21 campaign.
UP NEXT: Lenoir-Rhyne will be back at home this Saturday when they host UVA Wise. The Cavaliers currently sit at 3-2 (1-1 SAC) and are facing Catawba tonight. Tipoff for the game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Anyone who purchases a ticket for the NCAA DII Playoff football game earlier that day will be able to use that to get into both the men's and women's basketball games.
Print Friendly Version

Sponsors