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The Lincoln Memorial men's basketball team returns to South Atlantic Conference play with a road game at UVA Wise on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. The Railsplitters are 29-9 all-time against the Cavaliers, having won the last 12 meetings between the two teams.
 
Lincoln Memorial (13-1, 4-0 SAC) controlled the second half against Lees-McRae on New Year's Eve after trailing 40-38 at the break to win 92-79. The Railsplitters got 17 points each from forwards Jordan Guest and Quay Kennedy on the way to their 12^th straight win.
 
The host Cavaliers enter the game with a 7-5 overall record (1-3 SAC), having played common opponents King (W 98-89 on Nov. 11), Lees-McRae (W 90-65 on Nov. 12), Tusculum (L 64-61 on Dec. 7) and Limestone (W 94-86 in OT on Dec. 15). UVA Wise is coming off a 72-67 loss at No. 18 Young Harris on New Year's Eve and has also lost at SAC foes Carson-Newman and Coker in December.
 
Lincoln Memorial was ranked No. 6 in both the National Association of Basketball Coaches and D2SIDA polls released on Jan. 3, which is the team's highest ranking in the D2SIDA poll and tied for its highest in the NABC poll after opening the season in the sixth position.
 
RAILSPLITTER STRIKES (through games played Jan. 2)

• Lincoln Memorial leads the SAC in assists per game (19.5, sixth in Division II), field goal percentage (53.2, second), rebounding margin (+11.8, fourth), scoring margin (+20.7, fifth) and scoring offense (90.6 points per game, eight) so far this season.
• Chase Rankin ranks second in the conference and ninth in Division II in total assists at 78, while his 6.0 assists per game rank 13^th nationally. The graduate guard's 2.52 assist-to-turnover ratio is also second the SAC.
• Martez Brown's 110 total rebounds is second in the league and ranks No. 33 in the country.
• Matthew Sells has made 37 3-pointers this season, good for third in the conference and 31^st in Division II. The sophomore guard's 46.8 percent shooting from distance leads the league while ranking No. 22 nationally.
• 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 Rankin were all selected to the preseason All-SAC First Team.

SCOUTING UVA WISE: The Cavaliers were 4-24 (3-21 SAC) a season ago but currently lead the league in three-point field goal percentage (42.2) and three-pointers made per game (10.7), ranking 8^th and 14^th in those categories nationally, respectively. The team ranks second in the SAC in blocks per game (4.0) and third in average scoring margin (+8.2).
 
Sophomore guard Bradley Dean leads the league scoring at 20.4 points per game while also pacing the SAC with 86 field goals made. Forward Luke Lawson has the second-most blocks per game in the conference (1.92).
 
SAC Men's Basketball Standings (as of Jan. 3)
 
Mountain Division                Overall           Conference
Lincoln Memorial                  13-1                 4-0
Carson-Newman                     10-3                 4-0
Tusculum                                 6-5                   2-2
Emory & Henry                        8-4                   1-3
UVA Wise                                7-5                   1-3
Limestone                               5-7                   1-3
Mars Hill                                  3-8                   0-3
  Wingate                                   8-4                   3-1
Catawba                                  7-4                   3-1
Coker                                       8-6                   2-2
Newberry                                 8-5                   1-2
Lenoir-Rhyne                           6-5                   1-2
Anderson                                 4-9                   1-2
 
Up Next
The Railsplitters host rival Carson-Newman on Saturday for Alumni Day at 4 p.m.