HARROGATE, Tenn. – The Lincoln Memorial men's basketball team came out on top of Carson-Newman 84-76 on Saturday at Tex Turner Arena in a heated rivalry game.
 
The Railsplitters (15-1, 6-0 South Atlantic Conference) led 41-35 at halftime, but the Eagles (10-5, 4-1 SAC) made it a one-point game after a Tyler Bowens field goal decreased their deficit to 48-47 at the 13:22 mark.
 
From there, Lincoln Memorial steadily built the advantage to as much as 15 points at 68-53 on a Me'Kell Burries jumper with 7:27 left. Carson-Newman cut the lead to four at 80-76 with 24 seconds to play, but Chase Rankin and Jordan Walters made two free throws each to close out the game for the host.
 
Burries went for a game-high 23 points on 4-8 shooting on 3-pointers while adding three rebounds, three assists and two steals. Rankin contributed 19 points and three assists, while Quay Kennedy and Matthew Sells posted 11 points each.
 
In a battle of the two remaining unbeatens in SAC play this season, the Eagles outrebounded the Railsplitters 35-28, but the hosts benefitted from a 22-8 advantage in points off turnovers.
 
Lincoln Memorial shot 43.9 percent from the field (25-57) including 36 percent from distance (9-25) and 89.3 percent at the free throw line (25-28).
 
The Railsplitters host Salem on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in their last nonconference game of the regular season.

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Me'Kell Burries