HARROGATE, Tenn. – Riding a national-best 17-game win streak, the Lincoln Memorial University men's basketball team continues its 2019-20 journey by visiting Pioneer Arena Wednesday night for a 7:30 p.m. road bout with Tusculum University in Greeneville, Tennessee. The Railsplitters (17-1, 10-0) are looking to close out the first half of South Atlantic Conference play with an unblemished league mark, while the host Pioneers (11-7, 6-4 SAC) go for back-to-back wins after enduring a three-game slide.
 
How to Follow
Wednesday night's game will be streamed live via Tusculum's YouTube channel, while live statistics of the game can be followed by visiting TusculumPioneers.com. As usual, in-game updates will be available on LMU Railsplitter athletics' official Twitter account, @LMURailsplitter.
 
Opening Tip
- At 17 games, the Railsplitters hold the longest winning streak in all of NCAA Division II men's basketball by five games. It is the most consecutive wins for LMU since earning 21-straight victories two years ago during the 2017-18 season. The Railsplitters have not lost since an overtime neutral-site setback to top-five ranked West Tex A&M (99-89) in the season opener at the fourth annual Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Saint Joseph, Missouri.
- Perfect at home and in SAC play, LMU's 10 consecutive conference wins are the most of any team in the nation. Furthermore, the Railsplitters' 17 total wins are tied for the second-most among all Division II programs.
- For the third-straight week, LMU is ranked in the top five of both national polls. Two weeks ago, the Railsplitters landed a spot in the top five of both rankings for the first time since ending the 2017-18 season as the top team in the land.
- LMU is steady at No. 3 in the most recent National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Top 25 poll, marking the fourth consecutive week the Railsplitters have been ranked third in the coaches poll.
- In Tuesday afternoon's D2SIDA Media Poll, LMU checked in at No. 3 for the second-straight week. The Railsplitters continue to receive one first-place vote in the media poll after receiving a first-place nod in the D2SIDA Media Poll for the first time of 2019-20 last week.
- Only top-ranked Bellarmine (14-1) and defending national champion Northwest Missouri State (16-1) rank ahead of LMU in both national polls. Bellarmine is receiving all 16 first-place votes in the coaches poll and 11 first-place choices in the media poll, while the Bearcats are receiving three first-place acknowledgements in the D2SIDA Media Poll. However, there will most likely be some shakeup at the top of the rankings next week as this week's polls do not reflect Monday night's upset of top-ranked Bellarmine. Receiving-votes Indianapolis took down the No. 1 Knights 81-76 in an overtime affair inside Bellarmine's Knights Hall.
- This week's national polls mark the sixth consecutive week the Railsplitters have been ranked among the top five teams in the country and 47th week in program history.
- Fellow league member Queens University of Charlotte jumped back into this week's NABC Top 25, earning a spot at No. 24 as the only other SAC team nationally ranked. The Royals are also ranked 16th in the media poll once again this week.
- Since Nov. 25, 2019, LMU has been ranked at the top of the D2SIDA Southeast Region Poll and continues to lead the regional rankings after receiving five first-place votes this week. Queens is ranked second in the regional poll, followed by King University of Conference Carolinas third and UNC Pembroke out of the Peach Belt Conference fourth. 
- The Railsplitters own six victories over teams who were either ranked or receiving votes in at least one of the two national polls when LMU defeated them. Three of those are top-25 wins with Railsplitters ousting then 22nd-ranked Davenport (D2SIDA Media Poll) 98-48 on Nov. 2, then 12th-ranked Queens (NABC Top 25) 73-64 on Dec. 7 and then 22nd-ranked Catawba (NABC Top 25) 110-85 on Jan. 11.
- LMU continues to lead the nation in both field-goal percentage defense (37.4%) and defensive rebounding (32.8 RPG), while second in scoring margin (24.4), third in total assists (353), fifth in shooting (51.9%), seventh in assists per game (19.6) and eighth in scoring (93.4 PPG).
- Holding a 134-43-1 (.756) all-time record versus Tusculum, the Railsplitters are looking to avenge last February's two-point, 78-76 road loss in the second to last regular season game of 2018-19. Prior to last February's setback, LMU had won 24 straight against the Pioneers dating back to Feb. 4, 2009. Head Coach Josh Schertz is 26-3 versus Tusculum and the Railsplitters are 49-32-1 (.604) against the Pioneers in Greeneville.
 
Bevo Francis Award Top 100 Watch List Members
Last week, sophomore guard Courvoisier McCauley and senior point guard Anthony Brown were named to the 2020 Bevo Francis Award Top 100 watch list as announced by Small College Basketball and the National Awards Committee. Presented annually, the Clarence "Bevo" Francis Award is given to the player who has the finest overall season within Small College Basketball (non-Division I). The two guards joined an illustrious list of former LMU players who have been named to the Bevo Francis Award watch list in recent years, including Jalen Steele (2016), Luquon Choice (2016 and 2017), Dorian Pinson (2017 and 2018), Trevon Shaw (2018), Emanuel Terry (2018) and Cornelius Taylor (2019). All-American Terry won the national player of the year award in 2018 after compiling a remarkable 126-14 career record donning the Blue and Gray. It marks the fifth-straight year the Railsplitters have had at least one player named to the Bevo Francis Award Top 100 watch list.
 
Southeast Region Supremacy
Sitting atop the NCAA Division II Southeast Region, LMU has already defeated three regionally ranked teams. Facing both then 12th-ranked Queens and then 22nd-ranked Catawba in battles of SAC and Southeast Region leaders, not to mention then receiving-votes USC Aiken in the Railsplitters' home-opening conference crossover challenge, LMU held its ground and came away with convincing victories. The Railsplitters took down the Royals on Dec. 7 by a 73-64 score, ousted the Indians by 25 (110-85) just a week and a half ago and were 83-72 victors over the Pacers on Nov. 9.
 
Head Coach Josh Schertz Wins No. 300
LMU's 76-64 win over UVA Wise on Wednesday, Jan. 8 was head coach Josh Schertz' 300th of his remarkable career. He needed just 365 games as a head coach to reach the career milestone. Coach Schertz now owns an astonishing 303-65 (.823) record in 12 seasons at the helm of the Railsplitter men's basketball program.
 
Decade of Excellence
Closing the books on one of the best decades of basketball among all NCAA levels, LMU achieved unheralded success from 2010 until the start of 2020. Below are some of the Railsplitters' biggest accomplishments.

• 254-50 (.836) overall record
• 148-13 (.919) record inside Tex Turner Arena
• 174-28 (.861) SAC record
• 11 SAC titles, including seven regular season championships (2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) and four SAC Tournament titles (2011, 2014, 2016, 2018)
• Eight-straight NCAA Tournament appearances (2011-18)
• Two Elite Eight appearances (2016 and 2017)
• Two national semifinal appearances (2016 and 2017)
• One NCAA title game appearance (2016)
• Eight All-Americans (Emanuel Terry, 2018; Dorian Pinson, 2018; Chris Perry, 2017; Luquon Choice, 2017; Gerel Simmons, 2016; Lorenza Ross, 2015; Vincent Bailey, 2014; Desmond Johnson, 2011)
• 37 All-SAC selections with 18 first-team picks

 
Standard of Success
LMU has finished within the top two of the final SAC standings each of the last nine years, spent 95-straight weeks in the national rankings from December 2010 to December 2016 and completed the season as the top team in the country in two of the last four seasons. The Railsplitters are one of only four Division II programs to have posted 20 wins or more for 10 consecutive years. Only West Liberty (15), Bellarmine (11) and Indiana Pa. (11) can say the same. LMU has also reached the NCAA Tournament eight of the last nine seasons.
 
Coach Schertz Among the Elite
Since taking over the Railsplitter men's basketball program in March of 2008, head coach Josh Schertz has amassed a remarkable 303-65 (.823) record over 12 seasons. Entering the 2019-20 season, Schertz' career winning percentage (.817) was the fifth-highest of all head coaches in college basketball history at any NCAA level. Furthermore, Schertz ranks third among active head coaches with at least 10 years at the helm - Jim Crutchfield, Nova Southeastern (.844) and Mark Few, Gonzaga (.827) - and owns the second-highest winning percentage among Division II leaders.
 
Tusculum | 2019-20 Record: 11-7, 6-4 SAC

• The Pioneers snapped a three-game losing streak over the weekend, defeating Wingate 75-53 at home after going 0-3 on a three-game road trip at Carson-Newman (72-68), at Coker (67-58) and at Mars Hill (67-66).
• Prior to their three-game slide, Tusculum had won four straight with three SAC triumphs. The Pioneers defeated Anderson (70-54) and UVA Wise (86-84) in Greeneville and then 20th-ranked Queens 67-61 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
• With a 6-4 SAC record, Tusculum sits in a three-way tie for third place with Catawba and Newberry in the league standings. The Pioneers earned a 65-61 road win at Newberry (Dec. 7) and suffered a 75-71 home loss to Catawba (Nov. 30). In its SAC opener, Tusculum topped Lenoir-Rhyne 70-58.
• The Pioneers enter Wednesday night leading the country in both offensive rebounding (17.9 RPG) and rebound margin (12.3), while ranking fifth nationally in total rebounds (773), sixth in overall rebounding (42.9 RPG), 12th in total steals (169) and 17th in blocked shots per game (4.5).
• Led by second-year head coach J.T. Burton, Tusculum features a pair of double-figure scorers in senior 6-foot-2 guard Tariq Jenkins (13.9 PPG) and sophomore 6-foot-4 guard Trenton Gibson (12.0 PPG). Junior 6-foot-9 forward Brandon Mitchell leads the team in rebounding (8.2 RPG) as Gibson leads the Pioneers in assists (3.7 APG).

 
Looking Ahead
The Railsplitters return to the comforts of Tex Turner Arena Saturday for a 4 p.m. matchup with Coker before welcoming rival Carson-Newman to Harrogate next Wednesday, Jan. 29. Saturday's men's and women's doubleheader with the visiting Cobras is sponsored by The Olde Mill Inn Bed and Breakfast.
 
LMU L-Club
All LMU L-Club members receive basketball season tickets with premium seating available through silver and platinum memberships. Additional membership benefits include discounts at community partner locations, exclusive e-mail communications, VIP basketball parking and Tex Turner Arena hospitality room access. Become an LMU L-Club member today by visiting LMURailsplitters.com.  
 
On Social
Stay tuned to LMURailsplitters.com, as well as LMU's social media platforms - @LMURailsplitter on Twitter, @LMURailsplitters on Facebook and @lmurailsplitters on Instagram, for complete coverage of Railsplitter basketball throughout the 2019-20 season.