SALISBURY, N.C. - Facing familiar foe Catawba, Lenoir-Rhyne fell 87-78 on Wednesday night. 

Lenoir-Rhyne, who saw themselves down 45-32 at half, tied the game at 68-68 late, but free throws and threes from Catawba sealed the home side's victory.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Catawba 87, #21 Lenoir-Rhyne 78
Records: Catawba (15-4, 10-3 SAC), Lenoir-Rhyne (16-5, 10-3 SAC)
Location: Salisbury, N.C. | Goodman Arena

STORY OF THE GAME:

• Catawba jumped out to an early 12-2 lead.
• An 8-2 Lenoir-Rhyne run cut the lead to 14-10 with 12:32 remaining in the half.
• The Catawba Indians answered with a 14-3 run of their own to extend the lead to 15 midway through the half.
• Lenoir-Rhyne fought back as a Blessin Kimble free throw cut the lead to just 31-28 with 3:31 left in the half.
• The game of runs continued as Catawba closed on a 14-4 run to take a 45-32 lead into the break.
• Catawba didn't let the Bears get closer than seven for the first 10 minutes of the second half and led 60-53 with 10:07 remaining in the game.
• Lenoir-Rhyne chipped away and eventually tied it at 68-68 on a Junior Hodnett fastbreak layup.
• Over the next few minutes Catawba hit three threes, compared to three twos from the Bears, allowing them to seal the win with late free throws.

STATS OF THE GAME:

• Blessin Kimble led the Bears with 19 points on 5-7 from the field and 9-14 from the charity stripe.
• Conrad Luczynski picked up a 15 point, 10 rebound double-double.
• Sam Martin totaled 13 points, his highest scoring output since a 20 point performance against Clayton State early in the year.
• Lenoir-Rhyne was 22-54 (40.7%) from the field, 3-16 (18.8%) from three and 31-41 (75.6%) from the free throw line.
• Catawba was 28-72 (38.9%) from the field, 11-24 (45.8%) from three and 20-31 (64.5%) from the free throw line.
• 22 of Catawba's 47 rebounds were offensive, helping them lead with 17 second chance points.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Lenoir-Rhyne had won the last five meetings prior to tonight.
• The Bears still lead the all-time series 44-39.
• There were 53 fouls tonight, the second most in a Lenoir-Rhyne game this year (58 vs. Emory & Henry on Dec. 6, 2025).
• Catawba and Lenior-Rhyne sit in a tie for second in the SAC standings behind Anderson.

UP NEXT: Lenoir-Rhyne is will hit the road for Emory, Virginia, on Saturday to face off against Emory & Henry. Lenoir-Rhyne defeated the Wasps 95-87 in Hickory back in early December. Emory & Henry is 11-8 (6-7 SAC) and fell 77-68 to Lincoln Memorial earlier tonight. Tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m.