HARROGATE, Tenn. -- A rivalry will be renewed on Saturday afternoon when the fourth-ranked and undefeated Railsplitters (13-0, 7-0 SAC) travel to Wingate, N.C. and Cuddy Arena for a South Atlantic Conference battle against the Wingate Bulldogs (7-6, 4-3 SAC). Tip-off in that contest is scheduled for 4 p.m.
 
Lincoln Memorial and Wingate have met 21 times since the 2005-06 season, and they have shared the same conference since the 2006-07 campaign. The Railsplitters own a 12-9 advantage in the series, winning 11 of the last 13 meetings including three times last season. But Wingate has ended LMU's run in the South Atlantic Conference Championship in two of the last three seasons, defeating LMU in the finals of the 2013 tournament and the semifinals in 2012. The Railsplitters ended the Bulldogs' 2013-14 season with a 78-72 victory in the quarterfinals of the 2014 SAC Championship.  
 
Early in 2015, the Railsplitters and Bulldogs are trending in opposite directions, though. Lincoln Memorial is riding the third-longest winning streak to open a season in program history with 13 straight wins, while Wingate has lost five consecutive games since it last found its way into the win column on December 8.
 
The Railsplitters were dominant in a 73-54 win over Anderson on Wednesday night at Tex Turner Arena, limiting the Trojans to just a 33.9 percent mark from the floor and a dismal 3-for-17 effort from long range. Lincoln Memorial, meanwhile, shot 54 percent and went 8-for-19 from three-point range to snap a streak of three straight losses to the Trojans at Tex Turner. Luquon Choice (Laurens, S.C.) scored 20 points on 4-of-8 shooting from deep, while Lorenza Ross (Savannah, Ga.) notched a double-double with 14 points and a program-record 14 assists. Dorian Pinson (Greenville, S.C.) and Curtis McMillion (Fayetteville, N.C.) added 11 points apiece.
 
Wednesday did not go as well for Wingate, who fell by double digits for the third straight game in a 67-57 loss to Lenoir-Rhyne. The 'Dogs trailed by as many as 17 early in the second half, but they clawed back to within three points at 60-57 with 1:40 left. The Bears went on to score the last seven points to claim the victory and hand the Bulldogs their fifth consecutive loss.
 
Offense has been the main problem for the Bulldogs during their losing skid, as they have shot better than 39 percent just one time over that stretch. Wingate enters Saturday's contest ranked last in the SAC with a cumulative 40.6 field-goal percentage, while their 69 points per game is ranked ninth among league opponents.
 
Things won't get any easier against the Railsplitters, who lead the nation in field-goal percentage defense while ranking 13th in all of the NCAA Division II in three-point field-goal percentage defense. There have been only two games this season when the Railsplitters have allowed their opponent to shoot better than 40 percent from the floor, as LMU's scoring defense (60.6 per) ranks 11th at the DII level.
 
Senior Ryan Daye leads the Bulldogs in scoring with 14.4 points per game. Daye is shooting the rock at a 41.3 percent clip from the floor and a 37.5 percent mark from deep. Sophomore Isiah Cureton is contributing 11.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per, while Xavier Griffin's stat ledger shows 9.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. Keith Griffin is posting 7.5 points and grabbing a team-high 6.5 rebounds per game.
 
Luquon Choice has been on an absolute tear for the Railsplitters of late, scoring 16 points or more in five consecutive games and leading the team in scoring in four of his last five appearances. Choice leads the South Atlantic Conference and ranks sixth in the nation with 48 three-pointers, which are only 18 less than Coker has as a team this season. Choice has a real chance to break the school's single-season record for three-pointers, which was set by David Hopper during the 1990-91 season. Hopper hit 90 treys that season.
 
Tip-off between the Railsplitters and Bulldogs is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday at Cuddy Arena. Live stats and an HD video broadcast will be available via www.WingateBulldogs.com. Fans are also encouraged to listen along to the game with Voice of the Railsplitters Rusty Peace at WLMU 91.3 the Gap.

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