LR Men’s Basketball Comes Up Short at Wingate
WINGATE, N.C. - Despite leading for over 87 percent of the contest, the Lenoir-Rhyne Men's Basketball Team dropped its fifth-straight road game with an 81-77 defeat to Wingate.
With 8:31 remaining, Nas Tyson buried a straightaway three-pointer to give LR its largest lead of the game with 11. However, after that bucket, the Bulldogs went on a 27-12 run to garner the four-point victory.
Tyson finished with a team-high 22 points on an efficient 8-13 shooting performance. It marks the first time the graduate student has reached the 20-point threshold since Nov. 25 against Southern Wesleyan.
This marks the last time the Bears will have a mid-week game on road for the remainder of the 2023-24 regular season. The last time LR played in Shuford Arena during the week was against Belmont Abbey on Dec. 19, 2023.
GAME INFORMATION:
Final:Wingate 81, Lenoir-Rhyne 77
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (10-10, 5-7 SAC), Wingate (15-5, 10-2 SAC)
Location:Wingate, N.C. | Cuddy Arena
STATS OF THE GAME:
Tim Steele recorded a his conference-best 15 points against the Bulldogs with 5-9 shooting from the floor. The senior's season-best performance was a 16-point display against Belmont Abbey on Dec. 19, 2023.
Jaquias Franklin returned to double figures on the scoring column with a 14-point night. In his last two outings, the junior combined for only four points.
The Bears were hitting their stride from behind the arc in the first half with 5-8 shooting from deep. That success did not carry over as well into the second half with only making three of their 12 attempts.
Wingate had a busy night at the free throw line shooting twice as many attempts than LR. The Bulldogs were 28-32 from the charity stripe while the Bears went 13-16.
Part of the reason why Wingate had so many attempts from the free throw was due to LR committing 14 personal fouls in the second half. The Bulldogs were in the bonus with 14 minutes remaining and the double bonus with seven and a half minutes left.
Sam Martin led the Bears with seven rebounds on the night. In his previous four appearances, the freshman had a combined five boards.
Tay Smith had a rough night from the floor with a five-point performance. The junior was coming off a 20-point performance against Tusculum on Jan. 27.
Jalen Miller had a seven-point night off the bench for LR. The junior has now had his three best scoring performances in his last three outings.
Thanks to Miller and Cooper Fowler's four points, LR out-performed Wingate in bench points, 15-4.
The Bears won the rebound battle over the Bulldogs, 32-28, however, LR dominated on the offensive boards with a 9-2 edge.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
Despite the loss, Lenoir-Rhyne continues to lead the all-time series, 44-33.
The Bears now have a 15-19 record in road games against Wingate.
LR dropped all four mid-week SAC road games in January. For February, LR will have all its mid-week games in Shuford Arena.
The Bears' 77 points is the most they have recorded in a losing effort this season.
LR and Wingate will renew their rivalry in the Bears' regular season finale on Wednesday, Feb. 28 in Hickory, N.C. at 7:30 p.m.
UP NEXT: The Lenoir-Rhyne Men's Basketball Team will return to Shuford Arena on Saturday, Feb. 3 with 4:00 p.m. contest against Limestone. The Bears will seek for revenge from their 74-69 defeat to the Saints in Gaffney, S.C., back on Jan. 3.
