HARROGATE, Tenn. -- The top-ranked Railsplitters (20-1, 14-1 SAC) aim to rebound from their first loss of the season on Saturday afternoon, traveling to the Palmetto State to complete the regular-season series against the scuffling Newberry Wolves (14-7, 8-7 SAC). Tip-off in that contest is set for 4 p.m. inside of Eleazer Arena.
 
The nation's lengthiest overall winning streak (20) and conference winning streak (25), as well as Division II's second-longest home flurry (25), ended on Wednesday evening in stunning fashion, as the Carson-Newman Eagles shocked No. 1 ranked and unbeaten Lincoln Memorial by capturing an 87-72 win at Tex Turner Arena. Carson-Newman shot 50 percent from the field, the highest shooting percentage the Railsplitters have allowed since their last loss, a 98-86 setback to Montevallo in the semifinals of the 2014 Southeast Regional. On the other end of the floor the Railsplitters shot a season-low 37.3 percent, their worst effort in nearly three years.
 
After shooting better than 50 percent in seven straight games from January 7-28, the Railsplitters have hit a cold spell of late, shooting just 40.4 percent combined over the past two games. That offensive wall has been a product of the individual struggles of top scorers Luquon Choice (Laurens, S.C.) and Lorenza Ross (Savannah, Ga.). Choice has posted double figures in five consecutive games, but he is 8-for-29 in his last two appearances. Ross continues to assist at a high rate with 13 in his last two outings, but he has made just five of his last 21 shots.  
 
A matchup against Newberry might be just what the doctor ordered to cure what ails LMU's two stars, though, as the Wolves enter Saturday's contest allowing a league-worst 83.8 points per game on 47.3 percent shooting. Newberry has surrendered 80 plus points in 11 of its last 12 games. That shaky defense and the loss of preseason All-South Atlantic Conference first team selection Dondray Walker to injury has taken its toll on Newberry of late. After opening the season with 10 straight wins and ascending to No. 21 in the NABC/Division II national rankings, the Wolves have lost seven of their last 11 games with a 1-6 mark since January 14.
 
The Wolves' 1-6 record since mid-January is a bit misleading. Newberry lost by six points at Lenoir-Rhyne, fell by one point on a buzzer-beater at Brevard and lost a double-overtime decision at home to Carson-Newman. After a 16-point destruction of Queens, the Wolves fell by five points combined at Anderson and Wingate.
 
The Railsplitters were responsible for Newberry's first loss of the season, turning in a dominant 100-81 victory at Tex Turner Arena on December 15 in a matchup featuring the nation's ninth and 21st ranked teams. Lincoln Memorial shot 54.3 percent and buried eight of its 19 three-point attempts, while the Wolves finished shooting 39 percent from the field with an 8-for-23 mark from long range. The home team dominated the inside, outrebounding Newberry 48-33 and outscoring the Wolves 56-30 in the paint. Choice scored 21 points, while Keenan Peterson (College Park, Ga.) posted 19 points and 17 boards in 31 minutes. Tim Pierce (Albany, Ga.) and Gerel Simmons (Accokeek, Md.) finished with 21 and 17 points, respectively.
 
Newberry is still among the most prolific offensive units in the nation, ranking third in scoring offense with 93.5 points per game. The Wolves are also ranked third in the nation in terms of three-pointers per game, burying 12.5 per outing.
 
Senior Demarkus Smith does a little bit of it all for the Wolves, as he leads the team in scoring with 16.3 points per game on 50.2 percent shooting. Additionally, he is averaging 4.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Mitch Riggs is pouring in 12.5 points, grabbing 3.4 rebounds and handing out 2.9 assists per game, while Brandon Taylor is contributing 9.3 points and 4.2 boards per appearance. Along with those three, Xavier Holmes, James Stepp and Gerald Evans are each averaging more than eight points per game.
 
Eleazer Arena has consistently proven itself as one of the toughest venues that the Railsplitters visit annually. Since 2007, the Railsplitters are 6-3 in Newberry, S.C., but two of the past three meetings have essentially been decided by one possession. The Railsplitters rolled in a 102-87 victory last season, but won narrow decisions 100-95 (overtime) and 84-82 in the two seasons prior to that. Lincoln Memorial has not lost in Newberry since February 27, 2010.
 
Choice led the Railsplitters to victory in last season's meeting in Newberry, burying eight three-pointers and racking up a career-high 34 points. The Laurens, S.C. native also grabbed a career-best nine rebounds while dishing out four assists.
 
The Railsplitters are 11-2 following losses since the start of the 2010-11 campaign. Lincoln Memorial has not dropped two straight games since the tail end of the 2011-12 season.
 
Tip-off between the Railsplitters and Wolves is set for 4 p.m. Saturday in Newberry, S.C. Live stats and a video broadcast will be available through www.NewberryWolves.com, while fans can also listen along with Voice of the Railsplitters Rusty Peace at WLMU 91.3 the Gap.

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