HARROGATE, Tenn. – A breakthrough offensive performance vaulted the Railsplitters to a 108-58 dismantling of Paine in the Tex Turner Arena opener on Tuesday night. 
 
After enduring the program's first two-game losing streak since the start of the 2016-17 season and failing to crack the 90-point mark in any of the first three games, Lincoln Memorial (2-2) rained in a season-high 18 three-pointers and saw 11 players contribute at least two field goals to improve to 11-0 in home openers under head coach Josh Schertz. 
 
In its first-ever trip to Harrogate, Paine (0-3) remained winless on the season. 
 
"I really liked our spirit and our energy from the get go," Schertz said after LMU avoided its first three-game losing streak since the 2008-09 campaign. "I thought we came out with a lot of focus. It's been a rough spell for us here for the last few days, a lot of it self-inflicted. 
 
"We talked about with the guys that the trampoline is bounciest when adversity is at its highest. I was really proud of how we responded, how we came out and how we can competed. It's amazing how shots go in when you focus on playing well." 
 
The Railsplitters led from start to finish and put forth far and away their best offensive performance of the season, shooting a season-best 52 percent from the field, including a sizzling 18-for-38 mark from three-point territory. Lincoln Memorial also handed out season-high 27 assists with a season-low 12 turnovers. Paine, meanwhile, shot just 37 percent.  
 
Redshirt-sophomore Bryan Hart led a trio of LMU players in double figures, as the Hampton, Va., native scored a game-high 17 points on a 4-for-5 mark from three-point territory in his first career start and appearance. Fourteen of his 17 points came in the second half. It was a long-awaited chance for Hart, who redshirted his first two seasons at LMU. 
 
"I'm so happy for Bryan," Schertz said of Hart's performance. "He's been desperately waiting for his opportunity. He got it tonight and he made the most of it." 
 
Cornelius Taylor added 15 points, four rebounds and three assists, while Anthony Brown pitched in 14 points on a perfect 6-of-6 effort from the floor to go along with five assists. Kamaran Calhoun, Julius Brown and Courvoisier McCauley chipped in eight points apiece, while Calhoun led all players with seven assists. Cameron Henry and Rhondi Hackett paced LMU with nine rebounds each. 
 
Ashton Bonner led Paine with 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting. Cameron Gaines had nine points, five rebounds and three assists, while Fadil Robinson and George Jones contributed nine points apiece as well. 
 
The Railsplitters jumped all over the Lions right out of the gate and never let up in a remarkable first-half performance. 
 
Through the first 20 minutes, Lincoln Memorial shot 57 percent and connected on 11 three-pointers on only 20 tries. A early 13-0 run turned a six-point game into a 25-6 lead with 11:22 remaining in the first frame. Later in the half, a 10-0 spurt made it a 37-10 lead with less than eight minutes to play. Finally, the Railsplitters wrapped up the half on an 11-0 run to take a commanding 60-26 lead into the break.  
 
All 12 Railsplitters that played in the half scored, while eight hit at least one three-pointer. Meanwhile, Paine mustered just 10 field goals total in the first half to trail by 34 at the break. 
 
After taking their foot off the gas in the second half of their other blowout win this season in the opener against Clayton State, the Railsplitters didn't let that happen again, using a 10-0 run early in the second frame to extend the lead to 70-27. 
 
Lincoln Memorial later rolled off yet another big run, stringing together 11 unanswered points to cross the century mark for the first time this season and drive the lead to 106-51 with two minutes left in regulation. 
 
The Railsplitters shot 47 percent in the second half and knocked down seven more three-pointers to outscore the Lions by 16. 
 
"Tonight, I thought our guys really came out in the second half, tried to be aggressive and maintain their focus," Schertz said. "We didn't play to the scoreboard and competed. That was great to see."  
 
Schertz hopes that Tuesday's 40-minute team effort will serve as a stepping stone as the season moves along for the Railsplitters, who look to leave their 1-2 start in the past.  
 
"You got to just continue to go to work and try to build on this," he said. "We know we are capable of playing good basketball. We've shown it in spurts. 
 
"We've shown we are capable but we've also shown we are capable of being really bad when we are not focused and locked in. The challenge is always consistency." 
 
Quick Hits 
 
- The Railsplitters destroyed Paine on the backboards, accounting for a 51-28 rebounding edge. LMU scored 23 second-chance points off 16 offensive boards. 
 
- Tuesday was the first-ever meeting between Lincoln Memorial and Paine. 
 
- Five players buried multiple three-pointers for the Railsplitters, led by four apiece from Hart and Taylor. 
 
Up Next 
 
The Railsplitters travel to Virginia-Wise on Saturday for a 4 p.m. tip-off against the Cavaliers at the Prior Convocation Center.