HICKORY, NC - For the first time in program history, the Lenoir-Rhyne Men's Basketball team has won 20 conference games. The Bears defeated Newberry 98-85 to finish the regular season 23-5 (20-4 SAC). The Bears have earned the #2 seed in next week's SAC Tournament and will kick off the post season next Tuesday at 2:30 pm. 

For the third team this season, LR shot 60% from the floor as Tay Smith led five Bears in double-figures with 21 points.

Prior to tipoff the Bears honored seniors Tay Smith, Hantz Louis-Jeune, Jalen Miller, Jaheim Taylor, and Chase Mebane.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: #15 Lenoir-Rhyne 98, Newberry 85
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (23-5, 20-4 SAC), Newberry (13-15, 10-14)
Location: Hickory, NC | Shuford Arena

STORY OF THE GAME

• LR scoored first to open the game but the Wolves raced out to a 8-2 lead. This would be Newberry's largest lead of the day.
• Tay Smith hit a three-pointer with 2:48 left in the first half to give the Bears a 36-34 lead that they would not relinquish for the rest of the game.
• Newberry did score at the end of the half to cut the lead to 43-38 heading into the locker room.
• The visitors tied it at  47-47 with 17:45 left in the game but a Ziare Wells layup sparked a quick 11-0 run from the Bears. 
• The Wolves did make a few last runs as a quick 7-0 run helped them get with 74-72 with 6:26 left, but a pair of free throws from Wells and five quick points from Hantz Louis-Jeune extended the lead back to 81-74. 
• Newberry made one last run and cut it to 81-80, but Conrad Luczynski made a pair of free throws and Julian Dozier hit a clutch a lay-up to help the Bears pull away for the 13-point victory.

STATS OF THE MATCH:

• After only shooting five free-throws in the first half, LR went 19-25 from the free-throw line in second half.
• Lenoir-Rhyne shot 60.7% for the game and an incredible 68% (17-25) in the second half.
• The Bears had 14 steals in the game, led by three from Tay Smith and Julian Dozier. 
• Hantz Louis-Juene and Dozier had 17 points each as the duo also lead the Bears with four assists each.
• Sam Martin had 12 points thanks ot a 10-12 mark rom the free-throw line.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• The Bears swept the season series for the first time since 2009.
• Dozier finished the regular season second in assists in the SAC with 5.2 per game.
• Dozier's third steal of the night was his 60th, which is good for 6th most in a single season in LR history.
• Martin and Luczynski finished the regular season shooting over 60% from the floor. 

UP NEXT: The Bears will open the SAC Tournament at 2:30 pm on Tuesday afternoon against #7 seeded Anderson. The 2025 SAC Tournament will be taking place in Rock Hill, S.C. The Trojans gave the Bears two tough games this year, with LR winning 78-74 on January 15th and 85-78 on February 12th.