BREVARD, N.C. -- Seeking their eighth consecutive win and a 4-0 start to South Atlantic Conference play, the 16th-ranked Railsplitters (7-1, 3-0 SAC) begin a stretch with three games in six days by squaring off against the Brevard Tornados (2-6, 1-2 SAC) in Brevard, N.C. on Monday. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. inside of Boshamer Gymnasium.
 
Lincoln Memorial has defeated Brevard nine straight times since January 8, 2012, and only one of those nine games has been decided by fewer than eight points: a 73-71 win at Brevard on February 13, 2013. The Railsplitters beat the Tornados three times in 2014-15, including a 71-56 victory in the quarterfinals of the South Atlantic Conference Championship.
 
The Railsplitters last took the floor on Wednesday, December 9, when they defeated the Bluefield Rams 101-77 in the first meeting between the two programs since 1994.
 
Lincoln Memorial led for more than 90 percent of that contest, but it was far from a solid performance, as Coach Josh Schertz was forced to go deep into his bench to find the energy and effort that his starters were missing. Four of LMU's five starters hit double figures, however, the Railsplitters' bench outscored the Rams' second unit 40-14 to make the difference. Paul Woodson (Cincinnati, Ohio) led that group and earned Player of the Game honors by scoring 15 points and grabbing eight rebounds in 21 minutes of action. The Rams finished shooting 43.9 percent from the field and canned nine of their 20 three-point tries.
 
The Railsplitters have led by at least 20 points in every game during their current seven-game winning streak, but have made things interesting a number of times by pairing stretches of transcendent play with lengthy lulls. Lincoln Memorial has acted as an avalanche in the first half, when they have outscored their opponents 393-236 this season. But they've been more glacial in the second half, when opponents hold a 353-340 edge. The spread has been even greater in SAC contests, as league opponents hold a 140-112 advantage in the second half.
 
Brevard opened the season with five straight loses, but has won two of its last three heading into Monday's contest. The Tornados most recently improved to 1-2 in SAC play with a 69-64 triumph at Coker on Saturday evening.
 
The Tornados lost the program's two leading scorers in Darius Moose, who graduated, and Trevon Shaw (St. Helena Island, S.C.), who opted to transfer to Lincoln Memorial, from last season's team. That tandem combined for more than 33 points per game last season and helped lead Brevard back to the SAC tournament for the first time since 2011.
 
The loss of those two gifted scorers has affected Brevard's offense this season, as the Tornados are ranked ninth in the SAC in scoring (73.3 points per game), 10th in field goals made per game (25.6) and ninth in field goal percentage (44.1 percent). Brevard is also the third-worst team in the league in terms of three-point field goal efficiency with a 29.3 percent mark from deep.
 
The Tornados have made matters worse by struggling on the defensive end of the floor, where they are surrendering 78.8 points per game on 43.6 percent shooting and pulling down a league-low 37.1 rebounds per game.
 
The Tornados are paced offensively by Fairfield University transfer Demarcus Threatt, senior forward Miles Leathers and senior center Alex Moe, as that trio is combining for over 40 points per game. Threatt is putting up 21.6 points per game on 47.4 percent shooting, while Leathers is averaging 19.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.5 steals per game coupled with 47.7 percent shooting. Moe is adding 12.1 points and 8.0 rebounds per game while shooting at a 42.7 percent clip. Omar El Diraoui is the only other Brevard player contributing more than five points per game, managing 6.3 points on 36.4 percent shooting from three.
 
The Railsplitters improved to 6-3 all-time at Boshamer Gymnasium with an 87-75 win last season. LMU trailed 44-43 at the half but outscored the Tornados 44-31 in the second half, limiting the home team to 9-for-26 shooting over that span, to fuel the victory. Luquon Choice (Laurens, S.C.) and Gerel Simmons (Accokeek, Md.) combined for 43 points in that contest, as Choice poured in 27 and Simmons scored 16.
 
Lincoln Memorial has not lost a road South Atlantic Conference game since stubbing its toe at Carson-Newman on February 5, 2014, ripping off 14 straight league road wins. Over the last three seasons combined, the Railsplitters are 22-1 in SAC road games.
 
Following Monday's contest, the Railsplitters turn around to host Wingate on Wednesday before heading to Newberry on Saturday. The Bulldogs and Wolves enter the week with a 12-4 cumulative record.
 
Live stats and audio links for Monday's 4 p.m. tip are available at www.LMURailsplitters.com, the comprehensive online home of Lincoln Memorial University athletics. Fans can also listen along with Voice of the Railsplitters Rusty Peace at WLMU 91.3 The Gap.