PEMBROKE, N.C. - Playing in the rematch of last year's regional championship, the Lenoir-Rhyne men's basketball team got a much more comfortable win over UNC Pembroke on Wednesday, winning 83-67. 

Junior Hodnett scored a career high 20 points to lead the Bears while Blessin Kimble came off the bench to score 17 points on a perfect 6-6 from the field.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: (RV) Lenoir-Rhyne 83, UNC Pembroke 67
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (11-3, 5-1 SAC), UNC Pembroke (6-5, 3-0 CC)
Location: Pembroke, N.C. | English E. Jones Center

STORY OF THE GAME:

• Junior Hodnett opened the game with a steal and fastbreak three.
• The Braves went up 13-5 six minutes into the game.
• Down for the early portion of the game, Julian Dozier hit a three to give Lenoir-Rhyne a 22-21 lead with 9:03 left in the half.
• Akili Evans ignited the crowd with a poster dunk late in the opening half, putting the Bears up 30-29.
• Blessin Kimble scored an and-1 to give Lenoir-Rhyne a 38-35 lead heading into the break.
• The Bears made eight free throws in the first two minutes of the second half to go up 48-39.
• After being down by as many as 15, UNC Pembroke clawed their way back, cutting the Bear lead to five with 10 minutes left in the game.
• The Bears never let it get closer than five as a Junior Hodnett three with 5:16 left brought the lead back up to double figures.
• Lenoir-Rhyne held the Braves scoreless for six minutes late in the game, sealing the win.

STATS OF THE GAME:

• Junior Hodnett (20), Blessin Kimble (17), Akili Evans (16), and Julian Dozier (12) all finished in double figures.
• Kimble led with seven boards while Dozier dished out four assists.
• Conrad Luczynski and Sam Martin combined for four blocks.
• The Bears shot 26-52 (50%) from the field and 9-25 (36%) from three.
• Pembroke was 25-52 (48.1%) from the field and 5-18 (27.8%) from three.
• Point off turnovers were the key as the Bears led 27-14 in that category.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• The all-time series between these two teams is tied at 6-6.
• This was Lenoir-Rhyne's largest victory over the Braves since an 87-53 win in 2003. 
• Conrad Luczynski's 42 blocks leads the SAC and is second in the country.
• Junior Hodnett is third in the conference for steals (25) and Julian Dozier is third assists (60).
• Lenoir-Rhyne was 31-7 during the 2025 calendar year.

UP NEXT: The Bears will be back in Shuford to take on Newberry on Wednesday, December 7th. The Wolves are 6-6 (2-4 SAC) and most recently fell 94-89 to Embry Riddle on December 20th. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.