DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Three consecutive layups by Chase Rankin with the game on the line in the last five minutes propelled No. 6 Lincoln Memorial to an 87-86 victory at North Georgia on Saturday afternoon in the UNG Convocation Center.
 
The Railsplitters (5-1) led by as many as 15 points at 73-58 after a Matthew Sells layup with 9:52 to play, but the Nighthawks (3-1) rallied back with a 17-1 run over the next five minutes to take a 75-74 run before Rankin's personal 6-0 run gave the momentum back to the visitors.
 
Rankin, who tallied 21 points on the day, later made a jumper with 25 seconds left to increase the lead to 87-83. The hosts responded with a 3-pointer from AJ White, and then Frank Champion had a chance to tie or potentially win the game for the Nighthawks at the free throw line with two seconds to go, but he missed both.
 
Lincoln Memorial led 41-39 at halftime and for the entirety of the second half aside from trailing by one point for 25 seconds. The Railsplitters shot an efficient 58.9 percent (33-56) on field goals, including 47.6 percent (10-21) from behind the arc, while committing only nine turnovers on the day.
 
In addition to Rankin's 21, Me'Kell Burries (17 points), Quay Kennedy (14) and Luke Bartemes scored in double figures for the Railsplitters.
 
The duo of Champion (24) and Greg Billups, Jr. (20) accounted for the majority of points for North Georgia.
 
Lincoln Memorial will return home on Wednesday to host Georgia College and State University at 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Eve.