Young Harris, GA - The Lincoln Memorial men's basketball team opened the 2025-26 campaign on the road in Young Harris, GA on Friday night, taking on the North Georgia Nighthawks of the Peach Belt Conference. 

The Railsplitters led most of the first half, but found themselves in a battle by half time. Lincoln Memorial started the game on a 5-2 run to take an early lead. The Railsplitter lead grew to 8-4 before North Georgia battled back with a 6-2 run to knot the game at 10-10. A 7-2 run by the Nighthawks saw the score swing in favor of North Georgia, taking its largest lead of the game to that point, 17-12. However, a 10-5 run from Lincoln Memorial saw the game once again knotted at 22 with 7:32 remaining in the first half. The teams traded buckets, seeing the score swell to 32-32 in the final three minutes of the first half.  North Georgia closed the first half on an 8-2 run to take a 40-34 lead into the halftime intermission. Both teams shot just over 40% in the first half, with the Nighthawks winning the rebounding battle 22-13. The Railsplitters took extremely good care of the ball in the first half, totaling only four turnovers while forcing the Nighthawks into eight turnovers. Lincoln Memorial also dominated in the paint, out scoring North Georgia 36-28 on the interior. 

The Railsplitters cut the lead to a single basket, opening the second half with four quick points. However, the Nighthawks extended the lead to 51-43 with just under 17 minutes left in the game. Lincoln Memorial failed to relent, cutting back to within one possession on the heels of a 9-4 run, cutting the score to 55-52. The Railsplitters battled to knot the score 56-56 as the clock crept below 12 minutes. The score grew to 59-58, in favor of the Nighthawks, before Lincoln Memorial regained the lead as Ahmad Jarrard flushed a dunk. A layup and free throw extended the Railsplitter ead to 63-59 with less than nine minutes remaining. A minute and a half later, Lincoln Memorial found itself with a 67-62 advantage. The lead swelled to 70-63 before North Georgia began to battle back, cutting to within one possession, 70-67, as time began to dwindle with just over five minutes remaining in the game. The teams continued to battle as the score found its way to a knot, 73-73. The Nighthawks regained the advantage 77-73 with less than two minutes remaining, but back-to-back buckets from the Railsplitters once again knotted the game, 77-77 with just over a minute of game time remaining. North Georgia gained a slim 79-77 advantage with just over 30-seconds remaining. After forcing the Nighthawks into a turnover, the Railsplitters took possession, trailing by two points. With 16-seconds left, EJ Smith stepped to the line and connected on a pair of free throws to tie the game 79-79, seeing time expire on regulation and spill into overtime. 

North Georgia opened the overtime period on a 6-2 run to take an 85-81 lead with less than three minutes remaining. Lincoln Memorial cut back to within one possession, 85-83 with less than two minutes remaining in overtime. The Railsplitters once again tied the game at 85-85 with less than a minute remaining. Lincoln Memorial took its first lead over the overtime period 87-85 with just over 30-seconds remaining. North Georgia connected on a critical three point basket to take an 88-87 lead with 11-seconds remaining. However, Nate Mims stepped to the charity stripe with 7-seconds remaining, connecting on a pair of free throws to give the Railsplitters an 89-88 lead with just a few ticks left on the clock. The Nighthawks were granted a pair of free throws with 6-seconds remaining in the game, connecting on the pair, securing a narrow 90-89 victory.

Lincoln Memorial was led in scoring by Ahmad Jarrard with 19 points. He was followed by Drew Lewis with 18 points and six boards. EJ Smith and Yassin Hussein added 16 points each, with Hussein hauling in nine rebounds. Nate Mims followed with 11 points and five boards. Jayden Spearman added five points and four rebounds. Walter Campbell and Ashton Pennamon added two points each.

The Railsplitters will be back in action on Saturday against Georgia College and State University with tip-off slated for 5 PM.