HARROGATE, Tenn. -- The 10th-ranked Railsplitters (7-0, 3-0 SAC) look to wash away the memory of a sub-par performance Wednesday night as they welcome the Coker Cobras (3-3, 2-1 SAC) to Tex Turner Arena on Saturday for a South Atlantic Conference clash. Tip-off between Lincoln Memorial and Coker is scheduled for 4 p.m.
 
The good news from Wednesday's nonconference bout with Ohio Midwestern was that the Railsplitters remained unbeaten, knocking off the Rams 78-64. The bad news is the Railsplitters were sluggish both offensively and defensively, allowing a 0-7 Ohio Midwestern squad to hold a lead for an early portion of the second half. Lincoln Memorial was 27-for-39 inside of the three-point arc, but they were just 4-for-23 from outside of it, turning in a season low for made three-pointers on a season high for attempts. The Railsplitters matched a season high with 17 offensive rebounds, which were converted into 16 second-chance points. LMU defeated Ohio Midwestern by an average of 50 points in the four previous meetings.
 
The Railsplitters have to hope that Wednesday's struggles from three-point territory were an aberration instead of an indication that their hot-shooting start is beginning to wane. The boys in Blue and Gray entered that match-up on an historic pace for three-point efficiency, ranking seventh in the whole of Division II in three-point percentage with a 48.9 percent mark. Following Wednesday, the Railsplitters have fallen to fourth in the SAC rankings in that department at 42.7 percent. Sophomore Luquon Choice (Laurens, S.C.) has carried the torch through LMU's sizzling start from long range, bagging 28 of his 49 tries through the first six games. He was 0-for-8 on Wednesday.
 
Lincoln Memorial has, however, gotten a little bit more production from its interior players in the last two games. After seeing only two double-digit scoring performances by a post player through the first five games of the season, the Railsplitters have put a forward in double figures in each of the last two games. Keenan Peterson (College Park, Ga.) was perfect from the field, making all nine of his attempts while piling up a career-high 22 points in Saturday's win over Tennessee Wesleyan. Curtis McMillion (Fayetteville, N.C.) sparked the Railsplitters off the bench with 16 points and eight rebounds in Wednesday's win over Ohio Midwestern. Peterson and McMillion are responsible for all four of the double-digit efforts by LMU post players this season.
 
Coker arrives in Harrogate following a 75-59 loss at Benedict last Saturday, but prior to that the Cobras earned a pair of South Atlantic Conference victories over Carson-Newman and Queens. The visitors from Hartsville, S.C. are efficient offensively, averaging 71.5 points per game on 47.5 percent shooting, but they are vulnerable defensively and on the glass. The Cobras are allowing their opponents to shoot 49.8 percent from the field and 40.5 percent from three. Coker is the worst rebounding team in the SAC, as they pull down just 28.3 boards per game, a stark contrast to LMU's 41.7.
 
The Cobras are led by the senior duo of Errick Bethel and Larry Felder. Bethel is pouring in 20 points per game - ranked third in the SAC in that department - on 39.8 percent shooting. He is averaging just over three three-pointers and 2.3 steals per game. Felder is turning in 12.8 points and a team-high six rebounds per game on 57.7 percent shooting. Felder logged a game-high 19 points when the two teams first met in Hartsville last season. Donte Samuels is factoring in 12 points and 4.8 rebounds per game on 57.8 percent shooting. Trey Marshall, meanwhile, is contributing 8.7 points and a team-high 3.3 assists per appearance.
 
The Railsplitters and Cobras had never played until last season, Coker's first as full-time members of the South Atlantic Conference. Lincoln Memorial had little trouble dispatching of the Cobras in either of the two regular-season meetings, winning 78-67 in Hartsville and 95-81 in Harrogate. In that win in Tex Turner Arena on February 1, Tim Pierce (Albany, Ga.) scored a then career-high 17 points, while Ross added 14 points and Peterson posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 boards.
 
Prior to Saturday's pre-game introductions, a moment of silence will be observed in honor of athletic training graduate assistant Salea Brooke Willoughby, who passed away suddenly in an automotive accident on the morning of Saturday, November 29. Fans are encouraged to wear blue as a part of the #BlueforSalea initiative. A student contingent will be collecting donations throughout the game to benefit the Willoughby family. 
 
Tip-off between the Railsplitters and Cobras is set for 4 p.m. at Tex Turner Arena. Live stats and a live, HD video broadcast - compliments of the LMU Sports Network - will be available via www.LMURailsplitters.com. Fans can also listen along at WLMU 91.3 the Gap with Voice of the Railsplitters Rusty Peace.

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