Watch

Live Stats: Clayton State | USC Aiken

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – The Lincoln Memorial men's basketball team returns to Tennessee for the South Atlantic Conference / Peach Belt Conference Challenge this weekend at Tusculum. The Railsplitters are set to take on Clayton State on Friday at 5 p.m. and USC Aiken on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Pioneer Arena.
 
Lincoln Memorial (1-1) is coming off a season-opening 108-80 win over Valdosta State at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic last Saturday before an 83-81 setback against No. 24 Alabama-Huntsville on Sunday.
 
Lincoln Memorial opened the season ranked No. 6 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches Poll after a 2021-22 season when it went 26-5 (21-3 South Atlantic Conference) to claim a share of the SAC regular season championship and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
 
RAILSPLITTER STRIKES

• The Railsplitters set records for most points (108, tie), rebounds (56), field goals made (41) and assists (31) in a single game in the win over Valdosta State at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic. Lincoln Memorial also set tournament records for assists (54), field goals made (69) and 3-pointers made (32) combined for the two games.
• Along with being ranked No. 6 in the NABC Preseason Poll, the Railsplitters were picked to win the SAC with 143 points including 11 first place votes.
• Redshirt sophomore guard Me'Kell Burries, senior forward Jordan Guest and graduate guard Chase Rankin were all selected to the preseason All-SAC First Team.
• Lincoln Memorial led all of NCAA Division II in defensive rebounds per game (32.13) a season ago while leading the SAC in scoring margin (16.2, No. 4 in D2) and scoring offense (87.8, No. 9) among other statistical categories.
• Rankin's two triple doubles were the most in NCAA Division II in 2021-22, while his 5.9 assists per game (No. 11 in D2) and 2.75 assist-to-turnover ratio (No. 17) both led the SAC).

SCOUTING CLAYTON STATE: The Lakers posted a record of 8-20 (3-15 PBC) in 2021-22 and are coming off a 93-63 loss in an exhibition at Georgia Tech on Monday Night. They ranked second in the conference in blocked shots per game (3.6) and fewest fouls last season, while having 102 total blocks (fourth in the Peach Belt).
 
Clayton State is led by senior forward Jalen Shaw, who finished second in the PBC in field goal percentage (62.7) and rebounds per game (8.3) in 2021-22.
 
SCOUTING USC AIKEN: The Pacers went 17-12 (11-7 PBC) last season while falling in the first round of the Peach Belt Tournament. That team led the conference in steals per game at 8.4 and ranked second in scoring offense at 78 points per game.
 
The only returning player from last season's team to average double figures for USC Aiken is junior guard Tehree Horn, who posted 15.7 points and 5.3 rebounds a game in 2021-22.
 
Up Next
The Railsplitters will return to Harrogate for their home opener against in-state rival King on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. in Tex Turner Arena.