Wednesday, January 31, 2007

LENOIR-RHYNE STAYS HOT AT HOME, BEARS BEAT TUSCULUM 78-66

Jordan Lear scored his 1,000th career point in Wednesday's game at Lenoir-Rhyne

HICKORY, N.C. --- Reggie Bratton scored 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting to lead the Lenoir-Rhyne College men’s basketball team to defeat visiting Tusculum College 78-66 Wednesday night at Shuford Memorial Gymnasium.

The Bears (14-5, 8-1 in South Atlantic Conference) stayed atop the league standings with its eighth straight win and 20^th consecutive conference home victory.

Tusculum senior Jordan Lear recorded his 1,000^th career point as he poured in 22 points on the night, while senior teammate Larry Minnefee added 18 markers for the Pioneers (9-11, 2-7 SAC).

The Bears shot 63.8 percent from the floor, including a sizzling 15-for-20 in the second half (75%) as Lenoir-Rhyne rallied from a 35-33 halftime deficit. L-R took advantage of its 31 trips to the charity stripe making 22 free throws for 71.8 percent, including Bratton’s 9-for-12 performance.

L-R’s Marcus Springs accounted for 18 points, shooting 8-for-11 from the floor, while Josh Kindred finished with a dozen.

Tusculum used a 12-5 run in the final moments of the opening period to take a two-point lead at halftime.

Despite the point differential, the contest was a close one throughout as the game was tied eight times, while the lead changed hands on 11 occasions.

Tusculum returns home Saturday to host in-state foe Lincoln Memorial University for a 4 p.m. SAC contest at Pioneer Arena. L-R will be at Presbyterian on Saturday for a 4 p.m. game against the Blue Hose.

- TC -