HICKORY, N.C. - The Lenoir-Rhyne Men's Basketball Team protected their home court and earned a season split with Limestone in a win over the Saints on Saturday. The Bears pull even in the SAC standings with Limestone after the important victory. 

GAME INFORMATION:
Final: Lenoir-Rhyne 79, Limestone 72
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (11-10, 6-7 SAC), Limestone (10-12 6-7 SAC)
Location: Hickory, N.C. | Shuford Arena

STATS OF THE GAME:

• Lenoir-Rhyne used a lockdown defense in the first half to claim a 41-31 lead at the break. The Bears held Limestone to just 9-of-28 shooting in the first half, a 32.1 percent clip.
• Meanwhile, LR shot just under 50 percent from the field and went 5-of-10 from deep to build that 10 point advantage. 
• Jaheim Taylor led LR with 12 first half points while Limestone was paced by 15 from Jacquez Yow.
• Yow would go off for 19 points in the second half and finished with 34 on the game but it wasn't enough. Yow went 7-of-9 from the field to keep the Saints close. 
• Limestone cut the lead all the way down to one point at the 3:05 mark but the Bears would extend the lead to as many as nine before coming away with the 79-72 victory. 
• The Bears had a balanced attack tonight with Taylor finishing with 16 and Cooper Fowler added 15 points and seven boards. Tay Smith added 11 and seven boards.
• Limestone's duo of Yow and Trevon Payton combined for 48 of the Saints' 72 points but the rest of the team went 8-of-32. 

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE: 

• The Bears and Limestone are tied for the eighth spot in the SAC standings, 1/2 a game behind Anderson.
• Fowler's 15 points were a season high as were the seven rebounds.
• LR fell to Limestone 74-69 on Jan. 3. 
• LR has won 9 of the 14 head-to-head matchups and are 4-1 against Limestone in Shuford Arena.

UP NEXT: The Bears will return to action on Wednesday when they host Anderson at 7:30 p.m.