SALISBURY, NC - Winning isn't easy. The Lenoir-Rhyne Men's Basketball team earned their fifth straight victory on Wednesday night, taking down Catawba 112-108 in overtime. Down 106-102, the Bears went on a 7-0 run to turn the tide of the game. Ziare Wells led the Bears with 32 points on an extremely efficient 12-14 from the field.

This was Lenoir-Rhyne's first win in Salisbury since a 91-85 win on January 18, 2020. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 112, Catawba 108 (OT)
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne 7-2 (5-1 SAC), Catawba 4-4 (2-3 SAC)
Location: Salisbury, NC | Goodman Arena

STORY OF THE GAME:

• The first half started slow for both teams as Catawba led just 10-5 through the first four and half minutes.
• Ziare Wells' jumper tied the game at 12-12 with 13 minutes left for the game's first tie.
• Lenoir-Rhyne trailed throughout the entire first half as Catawba's largest lead was 10 with under two minutes before halftime.
• Julian Dozier's jumper before halftime cut the Indian's lead to 51-44 entering intermission. 
• The Bears took their first lead of the game at 56-55 thanks to a Dozier layup four minutes into the second half.
• Lenoir-Rhyne led by as many as eight points midway through the second half.
• The teams traded the lead seven times in the final five minutes.
• With LR up one, Catawba's Nick Walker went 1-2 at the charity stripe to send the game to overtime.
• Up 106-102, a Catawba technical foul helped lead to a 10-2 run from the Bears.
• Dozier cut the lead to one with three free throws, which was followed by two straight buckets from Ziare Wells.
• Junior Hodnett sealed the win with a tip-in and-1 bucket. 

STATS OF THE MATCH:

• Ziare Wells finished with a career-high 32 points on 10-12 from the field and 2-2 from three.
• Conrad Luczynski finished with 20 points, four boards, and two steals.
• Julian Dozier led the team with seven assists to go along with his 21 points.
• Bears shot 38-59 (64.4%) from the field and 6-for-14 (42.9%) from beyond the arc. 
• Catawba also shot extremely well, going 40-70 (57.%) from the field and 9-22 (40.9%) from three. 
• Both teams struggled at the free throw line as Catawba was 19-for-27 (70.4%) while the Bears finished 30-for-47 (63.8%).
• There were 37 combined turnovers between the two teams.
• Lenoir-Rhyne outscored Catawba 60-48 in the paint and 46-25 from the bench.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• LR's 112 points is their most in a game since a 133-122 loss at Newberry in 2016. It is their most points in a win since a 112-97 victory over Concord in 1993.
• Julian Dozier is averaging 4.1 assists per game after finishing with seven assists for the second time this season.
• This is Ziare Wells fifth game this season scoring at least 20 points.
• The Bears are tied for second in the conference with 90.4 PPG.
• This is the Bears first five game winning streak since the 2018-19 season.
• Lenoir-Rhyne is now 41-38 all-time against Catawba and have won the last two meetings. 
• This is the 10th time the Bears and Indians have gone to overtime in their history. 

UP NEXT: The Bears return home this Saturday to face off against Tusculum at 4 p.m. The Pioneers are coming off their third straight victory, winning 83-59 win against Mars Hill last Saturday. Fans are asked to bring new, plush teddy bears for complimentary admission to both the men's and women's games. All bears collected from the toss will be donated to Hickory's local Toys for Tots.