Harrogate, TN - Following an overtime loss to No. 14 North Georgia last week, the Lincoln Memorial men's basketball team is seeking to ring in the new year on the right foot as it plays host to 9-3 Lees-McRae in the final game of the 2023 calander year.

The Bobcats and Railsplitters have met on the hardwood eight times, with every game favoring Lincoln Memorial, dating back to 2007. The Railsplitters are 3-0 on the road all-time against Lees-McRae, 3-0 at home, and 2-0 in neutral sites. The most recent match up, in December of 2022, was the closest margin of victory in the series' history all-time, with Lincoln Memorial defeating Lees-McRae 92-79.

On the season, the Bobcats are averaging 86.5 points-per-game. The Railsplitters average 79.6 points-per-game. Lincoln Memorial dominates the glass, hauling in an average of 37.4 boards per-game. Lees-McRae tallies 34.5 rebounds-per-game. Both teams share the ball well, nearly mirroring the other's assist stats, with the Railsplitters holding a very slight advantage by average, 13.7 assists-per-game to 13.6 assists-per-game.

Lees-McRae is led by junior guard Ja'Quavian Florence, averaging 12.4 points-per-game, as well as four rebounds-per-game. He is followed by fellow guard Jalin Stewart, averaging 11.2 points-per-game and 2.1 rebounds-per-game. Two more Bobcats average double-figures in a well-rounded offensive lineup. Timon Jones and LJ Rogers average 10.9 points-per-game and 10.3 points-per-game respectively. Senior forward Sidney Dollar is Lees-McRae's leading rebounder, hauling in 6.8 rebounds-per-game.

Lincoln Memorial is led in scoring by Me'Kell Burries with 15.9 points-per-game, as well as 2.1 rebounds-per-game, to go along with a blistering 45% mark on the season from long range. He is followed by Chase Rankin with 12.7 points-per-game. Rankin is also the team's second-leading rebounder, and lead assist man, averaging 4.6 rebounds-per-game, and 5.7 assists-per-game. Martez Brown is the only player in the South Atlantic Conference to currently average a double-double, averaging 12.4 points-per-game and 12.6 rebounds-per-game thus far on the season. Matthew Sells is the fourth Railsplitter to average double figure scoring currently on the season, averaging 10.7 points-per-game, as well as 3.5 rebounds-per-game. He has connected on 24 three pointers this season, trailing only Burries.

Saturday's game is set to tip-off at 2:00 PM in Tex Turner Arena in Harrogate. The game can be found live streaming at the link below, as well as live stats, each beginning at the game's designated tip-off time.

Watch: https://flosports.link/3Q87pfY

Stats: http://statb.us/b/485453