HARROGATE, Tenn. – Playing five games within a nine-day period, the Lincoln Memorial University men's basketball team returns to game action and begins a three-game homestand Saturday afternoon versus first-year South Atlantic Conference member Limestone University. The fifth-ranked Railsplitters, who lead the 13-team league with an 8-1 SAC record and 10-1 overall mark, welcome the Saints (1-6, 1-6 SAC) to B. Frank "Tex" Turner Arena for a 4:30 p.m. tip-off in Harrogate.
 
With the challenges of fitting in a 22-game regular season with 20 conference contests amidst the COVID-19 global pandemic, LMU will host three teams within five days beginning Saturday. The Railsplitters take on Mars Hill Monday and Carson-Newman next Wednesday, Jan. 27.
 
How to Follow
Saturday afternoon's tilt will be streamed live via SAC Live on Stretch Internet with the voice of the Railsplitters, Rusty Peace, providing play-by-play of the contest. Live statistics of the SAC affair can be followed by visiting LMURailsplitters.com. As usual, in-game updates will be available on LMU Railsplitter athletics' official Twitter account, @LMURailsplitter.
 
Presented by Papa John's Pizza and the Olde Mill Inn Bed & Breakfast, Saturday starts a stretch of six home games in seven outings for LMU as the Railsplitters go for their 24th consecutive victory inside Tex Turner Arena.
 
Limited Attendance
Due to the ongoing public health crisis of the COVID-19 global pandemic, LMU Athletics has a revised attendance policy for home basketball games during the 2020-21 season. Tex Turner Arena will have a limited capacity of 10% in an effort of promoting and prioritizing the health and safety of student-athletes and game day personnel. The following groups of individuals are the only permitted attendees for home LMU athletic events held inside Tex Turner Arena: student-athlete pass list designees, L Club members, 50 students, dignitaries, and game day personnel. In line with LMU's COVID-19 policies and protocols, specific guidelines have been outlined to keep the health and safety of the LMU community the athletic department's top priority. For LMU Athletics' complete COVID-19 game day policies, please click here.
 
A Top-10 Staple
On a three-game win streak, LMU is ranked among the nation's top five in both national polls. In the sixth National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II Top 25 regular season poll of 2020-21 announced this past Tuesday afternoon, the Railsplitters are No. 5. LMU received one first-place vote and is No. 2 in the second D2SID Media Poll of 2021, which was also released this past Tuesday afternoon. Receiving four first-place votes, the Railsplitters sit atop the second regular season D2SIDA Southeast Region Poll announced this past Monday morning. Due to the difficulties of the COVID-19 global pandemic, at least one of the nation's top 25 programs has still yet to play a game this season. Several teams were removed from the NABC Top 25 following the announcement that they would no longer be eligible for the 2021 NCAA Division II Basketball Championship due to delayed season starts. LMU has spent a program record 22-straight weeks ranked in the top 10 dating back to Nov. 19, 2019 and has held a top-5 ranking a combined 58 weeks. The Railsplitters have been a top-10 team for 92 total weeks and have appeared in the national polls a total of 141 weeks since December of 2010.
 
Among National Leaders
Continually striving to be elite on both ends of the floor, LMU leads the nation or is near the top in several offensive and defensive statistical categories including ranking:

• First in total assists (256)
• First in assists per game (23.3)
• First in total three-point field goals made (138)
• Second in field-goal percentage (54.4 percent)
• Second in defensive rebounds per game (31.82)
• Second in three-point field goal attempts (332)
• Third in three-point field goals per-game (12.5)
• Third in total rebounds (441)
• Third in rebound margin (11.4)
• Fourth in scoring offense (95.0)
• Fifth in total steals (85)
• Fifth in scoring margin (25.2)
• Eighth in assist-turnover ratio (1.54)
• 11th in field-goal percentage defense (39.7)
• 11th in three-point field goal percentage (41.6)
• 13th in free throws made (159)

Back-to-Back Victories over the Cavaliers
For the second time within just over 48 hours the Railsplitters defeated The University of Virginia's College at Wise, doing so Wednesday night in Wise, Virginia, behind a season-best 19 three pointers and 30 assists on 34 made baskets. In the second-straight matchup with the Cavaliers, LMU was ultra-efficient on the offensive end of the floor and overcame a slow start to earn a 92-66 road win. Holding UVA Wise to 41.4 percent shooting inside the David J. Prior Convocation Center, the Railsplitters tallied the second-most assists in a game this season and shot 54 percent from the field. Going 19-for-50 from beyond the arc (47.5 percent) and 5-for-5 at the free-throw line, LMU outrebounded the Cavaliers by an impressive 45-19 margin and grabbed a season-high tying 14 offensive boards. Erupting on offense towards the end of the first half, the Railsplitters led by as much as 31 in the second half and got exceptional play from redshirt junior guard Cameron Henry and redshirt senior guard Devin Whitfield. Having his best game of 2020-21 thus far, Henry notched his third double-double of the season by scoring a season-best 28 points and securing a season-high 14 rebounds. Whitfield did no less than turn in his ninth-straight 20-point scoring performance with 22 points, five rebounds and a block. Despite a pair of early five-point deficits, LMU used a momentum-shifting 15-4 run over a 4:11 period to take a 10-point advantage and never looked back. Redshirt senior guard Alex Dahling was also outstanding in the contest, finishing with a season-best 16 points, which included four threes, a career-high six assists and a season-high tying seven rebounds. Continuing his phenomenal play off the bench, redshirt sophomore guard/forward Xavier Bledson poured in six assists, seven points and six rebounds in 19 minutes of action.
 
Henry Claims first Career SAC Player of the Week Honor
For the fourth time in 2020-21 a Railsplitter was selected as SAC AstroTurf Men's Basketball Player of the Week this past Monday when Henry picked up his first career player of the week award from the league. In LMU's 100-76 road triumph at Limestone on Wednesday, Jan. 13, Henry recorded his second double-double of the season by leading a quartet of double-figure scorers with 25 points, 12 boards, five assists and a steal. The 6-foot-6 guard continued his superb play this past Monday night in round one with UVA Wise, tying his career high in steals with five and finishing with 14 points on 5-for-10 shooting, seven rebounds, and a pair of assists. In Wise Wednesday night, Henry went 10-for-15 from the floor with a career-high seven three pointers on 10 attempts, dished out a team-high tying six assists, made a pair of blocks and claimed a steal.
 
Whitfield Continues to Impress
Despite missing the season opener and playing a limited role at Coker (Nov. 24) in his first game of 2020-21, Whitfield has been awe-inspiring. The Lipscomb, Alabama (McAdory HS), native has posted nine consecutive 20-point outings behind a 57.6 percent shooting clip. During the stretch, Whitfield has collected back-to-back SAC AstorTurf Player of the Week honors on Dec. 21 and Jan. 4 and was named Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) Men's Basketball Player of the Week on Dec. 22. Over his last nine performances, Whitfield has averaged 24.7 points with 222 total points, shot 43.9 percent from deep and gone 26-for-30 (86.7 percent) at the foul line.
 
All LMU Does is Win
Coming off their best season in terms of winning percentage (.970), the Railsplitters have won 42 of their last 43 games. LMU's 39-straight victories from Nov. 2, 2019 – Jan. 6, 2021 set both a program and SAC record for consecutive wins. Having won 30 of their last 31 conference outings, the Railsplitters went an unblemished 22-0 in SAC play in 2019-20 for their third undefeated league season in the last five years. Finishing 32-1 overall last year, LMU has dropped just two games in the last 687 days.
 
Preseason Accolades
Both Whitfield, the 2020 SAC Tournament MVP, and Henry, the reigning SAC Defensive Player of the Year, were selected as preseason All-Americans by Basketball Times. The all-region tandem also landed a spot on the preseason All-SAC First Team and features two of the top returning players in all of Division II basketball. Whitfield has scored 1,767 points in his collegiate career and currently leads the Railsplitters in scoring (22.6 PPG), while Henry led the conference in steals (71) and was second in rebounding (8.0 RPG) in 2019-20. Henry's 2.2 steals per game this season lead the 13-team SAC and he is tops on the team in rebounding (6.3 RPG) while second in scoring (15.3 PPG) and assists (4.7 APG).
 
1K Scorers
Whitfield reached 1,000 career points a season ago and needs just 233 more points to get to 2,000, while Henry is only 105 points away from becoming the program's 31st 1,000-point scorer. With 907 of his 1,767 career points coming during his two seasons at fellow Division II Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Whitfield is just 140 points shy of becoming LMU's 32nd (or 31st) 1,000-point scorer. Senior guard Alex Dahling (673) and junior point guard Julius Brown (554) are also within reach of the coveted 1,000-point mark for their Railsplitter careers.
 
Versus the Saints
Saturday will be just the 13th all-time meeting between LMU and Limestone with the Railsplitters holding a 7-5 edge in the series. Earning victories in each of the last two matchups, LMU got its first-ever win in Gaffney, South Carolina, a week-and-a-half ago when the Railsplitters marched past the Saints on the road, 100-76. The meeting was the first as a SAC contest between the two teams and LMU was able to bounce back from its first loss in 435 days behind inspired offensive play. Henry and Whitfield combined for 47 points and the Railsplitters shot 54 percent from the field with 12 different scorers. For just the second time in program history, LMU was perfect at the free-throw line (19-of-19). The Railsplitters distributed 23 assists on their 34 buckets and connected on 41.9 percent (13-of-31) of their three-point attempts. Undefeated against Limestone at home (5-0), LMU will be hosting the Saints for the first time since Jan. 29, 1994. Head coach Josh Schertz is 2-0 against Limestone after the two teams met in the 2017 Division II Southeast Regional Championship semifinals, where the Railsplitters prevailed 70-64 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
 
About LMU Basketball
The second-winningest Division II program of the 2010's (.845), LMU has won 13 total SAC titles since 2011. Selected as the top seed and host of the Division II Men's Basketball Southeast Regional Championship four of the last six years, the Railsplitters have ended the season ranked either No. 1 or No. 2 three times in the last five seasons. The only school in Division II to have reached 30 wins in five of the last six years, LMU is one of only four Division II programs to have recorded 20 wins or more for 11-straight seasons. The Railsplitters have notched at least 25 wins and earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament nine of the last 10 seasons. Inside Tex Turner Arena LMU has registered the second-highest home court winning percentage in Division II basketball since 2010-11, going an impressive 158-11 (.935). The 158 home victories are the most among Division II programs in the last 11 years as the Railsplitters have posted three perfect seasons in Harrogate during that time.
 
About Coach Schertz
Since taking over the LMU basketball program, coach Schertz has amassed an astonishing 328-66 record over 13 seasons. Schertz' career winning percentage of .832 is tied for the second-highest of any head coach in men's college basketball history at any NCAA level (minimum 10 seasons). He is also tied for second with Gonzaga head coach Mark Few (.832) among active head coaches with at least 10 years at the helm – Jim Crutchfield, Nova Southeastern (.841). On Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020, coach Schertz reached his 300th career victory with a 76-64 conference home win over UVA Wise. Reaching the 300-win milestone in only 365 games as a head coach, the seven-time SAC Coach of the Year owns the second-most SAC victories with a phenomenal 208-37 (.849) league record.
 
About Limestone
Led by second-year head coach Kyle Perry, the Saints have earned just one win in 2020-21. After an 0-5 start, Limestone defeated then receiving-votes Tusculum 68-61 this past Monday night in South Carolina. However, the Saints lost their sixth game of the season Wednesday night at Newberry (85-78). In Perry's first season in 2019-20, Limestone went 4-24 and finished last in Conference Carolinas with a 3-17 league record. Prior to their inaugural campaign in the conference, the Saints were picked to finish last in the SAC. Senior guard Ayo Dada, a 6-foot-2 transfer from Division I Bryant University, leads the team in scoring (16.6 PPG), assists (3.1 APG) and steals (2.0 SPG) and put up 29 points against the Railsplitters on Jan. 13. Limestone also features 6-foot-8 sophomore forward Ben Gahlert, who is averaging 10 points and a team-high 6.3 rebounds per game, 6-foot-3 freshman guard Isayah Owens (10.3 PPG) and 6-foot-5 junior forward Stephen Edoka (10.0 PPG), who is averaging 6.2 rebounds per outing.
 
Looking Ahead
LMU continues its three-game homestand Monday night when the Railsplitters welcome Mars Hill to Tex Turner Arena for an 8 p.m. tip-off. Next Wednesday, Jan. 27, LMU hosts Carson-Newman for an 8 p.m. tilt before heading to Wingate next Saturday, Jan. 30.
 
LMU L Club
Register to become an L Club member today. 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.  
 
Stay Up to Date
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 2020-21 season.