MURFREESBORO, N.C. - The Lenoir-Rhyne men's basketball team got revenge on Chowan for last year's opening game loss, defeating the Hawks 98-85 in an offensive slugfest. 

Conrad Luczynski continues to play like one of the best big men in the country, recording a 20-point, 12-rebound double double. Blessin Kimble joined him as the team's leading scorer with 20 points on an efficient 6-10 from the field. 

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: #19 Lenoir-Rhyne 98, Chowan 85
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne 1-2, Chowan 0-1
Location: Murfreesboro, N.C. | Hawks Athletic Center

STORY OF THE GAME

• Chowan went up 11-7 early after some hot shooting. 
• A Junior Hodnett jumper and Julian Dozier three quickly put Lenoir-Rhyne back ahead 12-11, and they would never relinquish the lead.
• The Hawks cut it to one (27-26) with eight minutes left in the half but an 19-8 run from the Bears, capped off by a Conrad Luczynski jumper, extended Lenoir-Rhyne's lead back to 12.
• A Luczynski tipin just before the half put Lenoir-Rhyne up 48-37 at the break.
• The Bears continued to push in the second half, extending the lead to 59-43 after two free throws from Blessin Kimble.
• Chowan, who sported an 18-10 record one year ago, didn't go quietly, cutting the lead down to five with 11:31 remaining in the game.
• A three from Hodnett and and-1 bucket from Akili Evans quieted the home crowd and put the Bears back up by 11. 
• Kimble scored 11 points in the final 8:44 of the game to help preserve the lead and propel the Bears to victory. 

STATS OF THE MATCH:

• Conrad Luczynski (20), Blessin Kimble (20), Akili Evans (14), and Junior Hodnett (10) all finished in double figures.
• Luczynski led with 12 boards (6 off, 6 def) while Kimble finished with seven. 
• Lenoir-Rhyne assisted on 22 of their 34 made field goals tonight and made an efficient 25 of their 27 (92.6%) free throws. 
• The Bears were 34-62 (54.8%) from the field and 5-15 (33.3%) from three.
• Chowan was 26-72 (36.1%) from the field and 11-25 (44%) from three.
• Lenoir-Rhyne won the paint battle 44-28.
• Chowan forced 22 Bear turnovers, but scored just 21 points off of them. 

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• The Bears are now 2-4 all-time against the Hawks, and this is their first win in regulation thanks to a 66-64 OT victory in 2022. 
• Conrad Luczynski now has 10 double-doubles as a Bear.
• With head coach Brent Owen's 30th win at Lenoir-Rhyne, 12 of LR's 20 coaches have reached the 30 win mark.
• Sam Martin is just four blocked shots away from tying T.J. Nesmith for 10th all-time for blocked shots in Lenoir-Rhyne history. 

UP NEXT: The Bears will be be right back at it again tomorrow when they take on Clayton State for their final game of the weekend. The Lakers dropped their season opener 97-72 to Tusculum earlier today. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.