HARROGATE, Tenn. -- The 23rd-ranked Railsplitters (2-0) wrap up a three-game homestand and open South Atlantic Conference play on Wednesday, November 19, hosting the Mars Hill Lions for an 8 p.m. tip-off at Tex Turner Arena.

Lincoln Memorial enters Wednesday's bout riding a streak of 10 consecutive wins over Mars Hill, and the Railsplitters have won the previous six encounters by a startling, average margin of 31.2. Making it 11 straight might prove a tad bit more challenging than a look into the past might indicate as the Lions are one of only four remaining unbeaten teams - along with the Railsplitters - in the South Atlantic Conference. Mars Hill opened the season by thrashing Belmont Abbey 85-55 and knocking off Limestone, who was receiving votes in the preseason NABC national poll, 75-66 in the OrthoCarolina Tip-Off Challenge in Wingate, N.C. The Lions moved to 3-0 with a commanding 104-52 win over Piedmont International on Monday night.

Through three games, the Lions' revamped offensive attack has averaged a league-leading 70.7 field goal attempts and 32.7 field goals made per contest. After demolishing Piedmont International 70-26 on the boards, the Lions lead the SAC in both total rebounds per game (50.3) and rebounding margin per contest (19.7), a category in which the Railsplitters led all of the NCAA Division II last season with a plus-15.2 effort. Those factors, along with the Lions' 3-0 start, are reason for optimism that Mars Hill can break a streak of four consecutive seasons finishing in the bottom three of the SAC standings.

Five different Mars Hill players are averaging 10 or more points per game, a group led by junior Justin Yeargin, who is pouring in 16.3 points per game on 46.5 percent shooting. Senior and preseason All-SAC second team selection Isaiah Cuthbertson is contributing 13.7 points and 11 rebounds per game, while junior guard Patrick Monroe is also scoring 13.7 points per appearance. Michael Carson is chipping in 11.7 points in 16.3 minutes per contest.

The Railsplitters jumped out to a 2-0 start after securing wins over Lees-McRae and King in the SAC vs. Conference Carolinas Challenge this past weekend at Tex Turner Arena, extending their streak of consecutive home nonconference victories to 30. A pair of huge second-half outbursts propelled the Railsplitters to their perfect start. After leading the Bobcats by only five at the break in Friday's season opener, Lincoln Memorial outscored Lees-McRae 53-34 in the final 20 minutes to pace a commanding 96-72 victory. The Railsplitters trailed King by eight in the first half, but they raced past the Tornado 42-31 in the second half to earn a 70-63 victory over the visitors from Bristol, Tenn. Through two games, Lincoln Memorial holds a 95-65 scoring edge over its opponents in the second half.

Sophomore shooting guard Luquon Choice (Laurens, S.C.) led the Railsplitters over the weekend and he was arrayed with AstroTurf South Atlantic Conference Player of the Week laurels for his effort. Choice poured in 17 points on a 5-for-8 mark from three-point range against Lees-McRae before canning six three-pointers in a 25 point outburst in Saturday's win over King. Senior Lorenza Ross (Savannah, Ga.) lived up to his preseason All-SAC first team moniker as he pitched in 16 points, seven assists and five rebounds in Friday's opener. He followed that up with 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting against King. Juniors Tim Pierce (Albany, Ga.) and Curtis McMillion (Fayetteville, N.C.) had strong outings against Lees-McRae as Pierce led all scorers with 22 points, while McMillion turned in 19 points in just 21 minutes.

The Railsplitters are averaging 83 points per contest on 51.8 percent shooting, while their opponents are scoring 67.5 points per on 40 percent shooting through the first weekend of the regular season. Lincoln Memorial connected on 16 of its 31 three-point attempts in the SAC vs. Conference Carolinas Challenge, as they lead the league with a 51.6 percent mark from deep.

Lincoln Memorial has not lost its South Atlantic Conference opener since Josh Schertz's first season leading the Blue and Gray, an 81-72 loss to Carson-Newman in 2008. During their current five game winning streak in SAC openers, the Railsplitters have won by an average margin of 15.2.

The Railsplitters and Lions are set for an 8 p.m. tip-off on Wednesday night at Tex Turner Arena. A free, HD video broadcast will be available, compliments of the LMU Sports Network and Sigmon Communications, at www.LMURailsplitters.com.

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