HICKORY, N.C. - The Lenoir-Rhyne Men's Basketball Team picked a good time to produce their best offensive output of the season in a 2-point win over Catawba on Wednesday night in Shuford Arena. The Bears shot a season-high 61.5 percent from the floor and the second best performance from long range (61.9 percent) in the victory. LR took down Catawba who came into tonight in second place in the SAC standings. 

GAME INFORMATION:
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 99, Catawba 97
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (12-12, 7-9 SAC), Catawba (14-5, 11-4 SAC)
Location: Hickory, N.C. | Shuford Arena

STATS OF THE GAME:

• Despite combining for nearly 200 points, the teams were ice cold to start the game. It took LR over six-and-a-half minutes to score and Catawba had just seven points to that point of the game. 
• From there, offenses took over. The game would go into halftime deadlocked at 45. The Bears finished the first half going 15-of-26 from the field and 4-of-8 from deep. Catawba countered with 16-of-28 from the field but just 3-of-10 from beyond the arc.
• The second half was back-and-forth with neither team leading by more than six over the final 15 minutes. 
• Catawba held a 93-88 advantage with 2:11 to go after a triple by O'Mazeon Tinsley but LR stormed back. Jaquias Franklin answered with a three of his own on the other end and a pair of free throws by Cooper Fowler tied the game at 93. 
• After Catawba took the lead with 50 seconds left, Tay Smith hit a clutch three to give LR the lead. Javeon Jones gave the visitors the lead back with 35 seconds to go, setting the stage for what turned out to be the game winning basket.
• Jaheim Taylor drove the lane and dished to Tim Steele who finished in the lane to put the Bears up 98-97. Catawba then turned the ball over and Nas Tyson went 1-of-2 from the stripe. 
• Catawba didn't get a shot off before the clock expired as a jumper was deemed to be too late but didn't go in anyways as the Bears pulled the upset.
• Fowler led LR with 17 points in 21 minutes and went 6-of-6 from the line and 5-of-7 from the field. Tyson had 15 and Smith had 12 on 4-of-6 from deep. Steele also had 12.
• Catawba was led by Tinsley's 22 points and five players scored in double figures. 

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE: 

• The 13 made threes by LR in the game are the most this season. The previous best was 10 made triples which they did three different times.  
• The 99 points are a season best as LR came in averaging 72.5 points. 
• The 99 points are the most since LR scored 108 against Wingate on Feb. 8 of last year but that game went into double overtime. 
• It was the most points scored in a game that ended in regulation since LR scored 100 against UVA Wise on Jan. 12, 2022.
• The Bears are 3-1 against Catawba in the last four home games with the Indians. 
• LR improves to 25-12 all-time at home against Catawba in the NCAA Era. 

UP NEXT: The Bears will stay home on Saturday as they host Mars Hill at 4 p.m.