Basketball (M)

November 23, 2021

Men's Basketball Goes Cold Late in Loss to #22 LMU

HARROGATE, Tenn. -- Host and 22nd-ranked Lincoln Memorial held off an upset bid from Catawba to claim a 93-77 win in South Atlantic Conference men’s basketball action on Tuesday night at Turner Arena. The Railsplitters move to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the SAC, while the Catawba Indians fall to 1-4 and 0-3.

Catawba started well and led 21-14 after a jumper by Ray Kowalski after eight minutes. LMU would regain a lead with just over 7:21 left in the half on a three-pointer by Jordan Guest at 30-27. The Railsplitters shot 61% in the opening half and pulled out to a 51-45 lead at the break.

Lincoln Memorial built a double-digit lead five minutes into the second half, but the Indians stayed close. O’Mazeon Tinsley started an 8-1 run that closed the gap to 68-65 with 10:38 to go. When Caleb Robinson canned a pair of free throws, Catawba was within 73-71 with 9:03 remaining.

Tinsley had Catawba within a bucket after his jumper with 7:19 left, but LMU would go on an 11-0 run to get back up by double figures with 3:50 to go. Catawba only got two baskets by Robinson the rest of the way.

Robinson led Catawba with a career-best 28 points and added eight rebounds. He hit on 11-of-19 from the field. Kowalski followed with 11 points and Tinsley reached double figures with 10. Trevion Lamar grabbed eight rebounds.

Guest led LMU with a near triple-double of 23 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists. Chase Rankin tossed in 20 points with eight assists and Jordan Walter added 15 points and seven rebounds.

LMU shot 52% for the game, while Catawba connected on 44%. LMU edged Catawba 42-25 on the boards and dished out 24 assists to just three for the Indians.

Catawba hosts Mars Hill on Saturday at 4 p.m. following the women’s game between the two schools.

Box Score