Saturday, January 24, 2004

L-R Men's Basketball Subdues PC, 69-44, 
For Eighth Consecutive Win

HICKORY, N.C. — The No. 25 Lenoir-Rhyne men's basketball team made it eight in a row with a 69-44 win over Presbyterian Saturday night in Shuford Gymnasium.  L-R, off to its best start in 13 years, improved to 14-3 on the season and 5-0 in the South Atlantic Conference while the Blue Hose fell to 11-7 overall and 2-3 in league play.

Lenoir-Rhyne's defense limited PC to just 27 percent shooting and 12 field goals for the game, both season bests, and Presbyterian's 44 points were its lowest for the year.

The Bears, with an eight-point lead at the break (29-23), slowly increased the margin after intermission while limiting the Blue Hose to just five-of-26 shooting (19 percent) in the second half.

Senior guard Rashad Price (Charlotte, N.C.) led the Bears in scoring as he tied for a season-best with 17 points including 11 after halftime.  Senior center Ryan Pitts (Baltimore, Md.) added 13 points on five-for-five shooting in just 11 minutes of action and junior forward Roman Davis (Greensboro, N.C.) chipped in with 10 points.

For Presbyterian, Johann Collins (Raleigh, N.C.) notched a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Due to the foul count (51 for the game), both teams were forced to go deep into their bench.  L-R, which out-rebounded the Blue Hose, 45-31, had nine players with at least three boards.

Lenoir-Rhyne faces SAC-rival Wingate next while Presbyterian travels to Salisbury, N.C., to take Catawba in a league contest. Both games are scheduled for 8 p.m. on Wednesday.