HARROGATE, Tenn. -- The fifth-ranked Railsplitters (23-1, 17-1 SAC) put in their stingiest defensive effort in four seasons and claimed the program's third consecutive South Atlantic Conference regular season title with a dominant 69-37 win over the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears (8-14, 6-12 SAC) on Saturday afternoon at Tex Turner Arena.
 
Lincoln Memorial's top-ranked field-goal percentage defense completely dismantled Lenoir-Rhyne, limiting the visiting unit to just 25 percent shooting (14-for-56) from the field with a 30 percent (3-for-10) mark from three-point territory. The Bears' 37 points were the fewest the Railsplitters have allowed since holding OSU-Mansfield to that same number on November 25, 2011. It was the second-fewest points in the series history as the Railsplitters held L-R to 34 points back on January 22, 2011.
 
Will Perry was the lone Lenoir-Rhyne player to hit double figures in the contest, scoring 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting. Perry came into Saturday's contest averaging 16 points per appearance. Rob Noyes - who averages better than 10 points per game - was 0-for-8 from the field and went scoreless for just the second time this season.
 
With the win, the Railsplitters clinched their fourth SAC regular season title in the past five seasons, while becoming the first team in league history to win three consecutive outright conference championships. Lenoir-Rhyne is the only team in SAC history with a five-year stretch approaching that of the Railsplitters, as the Bears won three titles from 2002-06. The Railsplitters have created a massive six-game gap in the SAC standings with four regular season contests remaining.
 
Junior Curtis McMillion (Fayetteville, N.C.) started in place of Keenan Peterson (College Park, Ga.), who was sidelined with a minor injury, and led all players with 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting in 27 minutes. McMillion added five rebounds and four blocks to his stat ledger. Luquon Choice (Laurens, S.C.) buried seven of his 10 shot attempts and finished the afternoon with 15 points and seven rebounds. In 23 super-efficient minutes, Dorian Pinson (Greenville, S.C.) scored nine points, hauled in eight rebounds, handed out three assists and grabbed two steals. Gerel Simmons (Accokeek, Md.) contributed eight points in 19 minutes off of the bench.
 
The Railsplitters finished shooting 55.6 percent (30-for-54) from the field, 41.7 percent (5-for-12) from three and 50 percent (4-for-8) from the free throw line. Lincoln Memorial completely dominated the interior, accounting for a 42-32 rebounding advantage while outscoring the Bears 40-18 in the paint. The Railsplitters assisted on 13 of their 30 field goals and produced 14 points off of 10 offensive rebounds.
 
A Jake Wilson jumper even the score at 8-8 with 15:31 remaining in the first half, but that's when the Railsplitters took over. The next six minutes saw the Railsplitters run off a 16-4 run, capped by back-to-back buckets by McMillion, to assume a 24-12 edge at 9:34. Perry's jumper at 9:53 was the last field goal of the half for the Bears, who would get just four more points - all at the free throw line - for the remainder of the first stanza. The Railsplitters carried a 34-16 cushion into the locker room.
 
Lincoln Memorial allowed only five field goals in the opening half. The Bears finished the first stanza 5-for-23 (21.7 percent) from the field, but buried two three-points and four late free throws to bolster what was an otherwise ice-cold half of basketball.
 
The Railsplitters continued to push the pace in the second frame, using a 9-0 spurt to bulge the lead to 48-25 by the 13:59 mark. A dunk by Wilson trimmed the deficit below 20 (54-34), but an 8-0 flurry built the Railsplitters' cushion to 62-34 with 4:03 left. The Railsplitters accounted for seven of the last eight points scored to finish off the 32-points evisceration.
 
Lincoln Memorial captured its 10th consecutive win over Lenoir-Rhyne and improved to 13-8 all-time against the Bears.
 
In coordination with Saturday's game, Lincoln Memorial celebrated its Play 4Kay day, raising funds towards the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Local cancer survivors were recognized and honored at halftime of the contest.
 
Next up, the Railsplitters hit the road to Brevard, N.C. for a South Atlantic Conference tilt against the Brevard Tornados. Tip is set for 8 p.m.