ANDERSON, S.C. - Another successful season for Lenoir-Rhyne basketball has come to an end. The Bears fell 86-62 to Lander in the Southeast Regional Championship game.
This marked Lenoir-Rhyne's second consecutive appearance in the Region Championship game. They close their season with a record of 26-9 (17-5 SAC).
Lander will be making their second ever trip to the Elite Eight (1999) and will find out their matchup when the remaining eight teams are re-seeded.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: #23 Lander 86, (RV) Lenoir-Rhyne 62
Records: Lander (28-5), Lenoir-Rhyne (26-9)
Location: Anderson, S.C. | Abney Athletic Center
STORY OF THE GAME:
- Thanks in part to six points from Blessin Kimble, Lenoir-Rhyne jumped out to a 14-6 lead.
- Sam Martin extended that lead to 19-10 with 14:23 left in the half.
- Junior Hodnett hit a three to give the Bears a 25-24 lead, their last of the game.
- Lander closed the half on a 13-4 run to take a 37-29 lead into the break.
- The Bearcats didn't let up in the second half, making it a 20-point game with 10 minutes left in the game.
- Lenoir-Rhyne's second half press didn't phase Lander as they threw down multiple dunks to book their trip to the Elite Eight.
STATS OF THE GAME:
- Akili Evans and Blessin Kimble each finished with 13 points.
- Kimble led the team with six boards.
- The Bears were just 16-54 (29.6%) from the field, 6-22 (27.3%) from three, and 24-31 (77.4%) from the free throw line.
- Lander was 35-65 (53.8%) from the field, 10-27 (37%) from three, and 6-15 (40%) from the free throw line.
- Lander outscored the Bears 48-20 in the paint nad force 17 LR turnovers.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
- This team set program records for points (3,131), rebounding margin (7.2), and free throws made (703).
- Tyler Burraston (115) ranks first all-time for threes made in a single season while Junior Hodnett (78) is sixth.
- Conrad Luczynski owns the school record for single season blocks with 81.
- Sam Martin's 121 career blocks ranks sixth in program history.
- Brent Owen has a record of 55-15 in two seasons at Lenoir-Rhyne.