HARROGATE, Tenn. – Week one of the 2018-19 season is in the books for the Lincoln Memorial men's basketball team. Here's an in-depth look at everything happening for the Railsplitters. 
 
Railsplitters Split Opening Weekend 
 
No. 3 Lincoln Memorial kicked off the season with a dominant 82-61 win over Clayton State in the first game of the SAC vs. Peach Belt Conference Challenge on Friday night in Aiken, S.C. The Railsplitters never trailed by more than two points and led by as many as 30. Clayton State shot just 23.5 percent in the game, which was a rematch of last season's Southeast Regional semifinals matchup. 
 
Saturday was a different story, though, as the Railsplitters shot only 35 percent, turned the ball over 17 times and allowed 16 offensive boards to suffer a 79-68 loss to USC Aiken. LMU held a 54-53 lead with less than 10 minutes to play, but the Pacers took the lead for good with a 14-2 run that consumed over four minutes of game clock. 
 
It marked the Railsplitters' second-earliest loss of the season in head coach Josh Schertz's 11-season tenure behind only the 2015-16 squad, which lost its season-opener at King. 
 
Strong Start for Taylor 
 
Preseason All-American guard Cornelius Taylor got out to a solid start by averaging 23.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game across both games last weekend. The Claxton, Ga., native scored 22 against Clayton State and dropped in 25 against USC Aiken. Taylor struggled with efficiency, though, shooting 35 percent from the floor, including a 9-for-31 mark from three, while turning the ball over 10 times total. 
 
With 47 points total, Taylor surpassed the 900-career point mark and now needs just 92 points to join LMU's 1000-point club. 
 
Offensive Struggles 
 
The Railsplitters were rock solid defensively last weekend, combining to hold their two opponents to 32 percent shooting and a 30 percent mark from three. However, Lincoln Memorial shot just 38 percent from the field and 29 percent from three-point range in the two games. LMU has also dished out only 22 assists while committing 33 turnovers. 
 
LMU has finished among the top three in the nation in terms of field-goal percentage offense in each of the last three seasons, and led the country in that department last season with a 53 percent mark. 
 
Good Debut for Henry
 
Redshirt-freshman guard Cameron Henry had a pretty good weekend to start his college career, averaging 10.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while leading the team with four blocks. The Chesterfield, Va., product had a career-best 14 points and nine rebounds in the loss to USC Aiken. 
 
Road Trip to Memphis on Tap
 
Another tall task awaits the Railsplitters this weekend as they make the 450-mile trek to Memphis to face Christian Brothers on Saturday. The Bucs went 21-9 last season, including an 11-4 mark at Canale Arena. They kicked off their season by beating Central State twice, winning 78-56 on Friday and 86-76 on Sunday. 
 
Bouncing Back from Defeat 
 
The Railsplitters will look to avoid dropping back-to-back games for the first time since they fell to Alabama-Huntsville and Carson-Newman in succession in November 2016. Since the start of the 2010-11 season, Lincoln Memorial has lost two straight games only three times. 
 
SAC Play Looming 
 
The Railsplitters have just three games standing between them and the start of South Atlantic Conference play. After Saturday's trip to Christian Brothers, Lincoln Memorial makes its Tex Turner Arena debut against Paine on November 20 and then heads to Virginia-Wise on November 24. After that, SAC play commences with a home game against Carson-Newman on November 28.