LR Rallies Late to Top Men's Basketball

SALISBURY, NC -- B.J. Beasley (Charlotte, NC) converted a three-point play with 30 seconds remaining to help lift Lenoir-Rhyne to a 61-58 win over host Catawba in South Atlantic Conference men’s basketball action on Wednesday night at Goodman Gym.  The Bears win their fourth straight to improve to 8-8 overall and 403 in the SAC.  The Catawba Indians fall to 4-11 and 1-6.

Catawba led by two inside the final minute, but after a turnover, Beasley hit a shot in the lane to tie the score and added a free throw to give Lenoir-Rhyne a 59-58 lead.  The Indians missed a shot with 10 seconds remaining and the Bears got a second chance at free throws after an offensive rebound.  D.J. Blackmon (Albemarle, NC) hit a pair at the line with 5.9 seconds to go and Catawba failed to get off a final shot.

The Indians had battled back from a 45-37 deficit with just over 13 minutes to play to go on top on a three-pointer by Willie Gilmore (Fayetteville, NC/Trinity Christian) with 7:35 left.  It capped a 13-4 run by Catawba.  There were five ties and four lead changes in the final eight minutes.

Blackmon had pulled the Bears even at 56-all with 1:49 left, but his basket was answered by Keon Moore (Colerain, NC/Bertie HS) at the 1:15 mark.  Tyrece Little (Greenville, NC/Rose HS) blocked the last of his five shots on LR’s next possession.  Catawba committed a backcourt violation with 409 seconds to go to set up the go-ahead basket by the Bears.

Catawba led for most of the first half, building a 26-18 edge with just over five minutes left before the break.  The Bears rallied, scoring 15 consecutive points to grab a 33-26 advantage just over a minute before the half.  Hunter McClintock (Durham, NC) hit two three-pointers in the run and Matt Kunz (Kernersville, NC) added six points in the stretch.  LR took a 33-30 lead at intermission.

Blackmon and Allan Jones (Clemmons, NC) led Lenoir-Rhyne with 13 points each.  Kunz added a dozen, while Beasley pulled down eight points and tallied eight points.  Gilmore paced Catawba with 14 points.  Cameron Lovelace (Cherryville, NC/Cherryville HS/N. Florida) tossed in 11 points and Justin Huntley (Mooresville, NC/Mooresville scored 10 points.  Little added eight boards to his five blocks.