Salisbury, NC -- The Lincoln Memorial University men's basketball team showed continued signs of growth Saturday afternoon, delivering a gritty, high-energy performance in a South Atlantic Conference road matchup at Catawba. Behind efficient guard play, active hands defensively, and contributions throughout the rotation, the Railsplitters generated stretches of momentum that reflected the competitive style being instilled by first-year head coach Tony Jasick.

It appeared early on that the Catawba Indians would dictate the pace of the game after jumping out to a quick 12-2 lead. However, the Railsplitters battled back on the heels of an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to one bucket, 12-10. Catawba once again stretched the lead to eight points, 19-11 with 7:23 remaining in the first half. Once again, Lincoln Memorial battled back to cut the deficit to a single bucket as the score swelled to 27-24 with three-minutes remaining in the first half. The Catawba Indian's attempts to separate from the Railsplitters were futile, seeing Lincoln Memorial close the half on a 7-2 run to take its first lead of the game in the final 20-seconds of the opening half behind a long-range shot-clock-beating three-pointer from EJ Smith.

LMU posted 31 first-half points on 37 percent shooting (10-of-27) while connecting on three three-pointers and finishing 8-of-14 at the free throw line. The Railsplitters' defensive commitment was evident throughout the opening frame, compiling six steals, two blocks, and 19 rebounds while forcing multiple Catawba turnovers.

Leading the offensive production was guard Nate Mims, who poured in 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including 2-of-5 from three, adding a steal and an assist in 15 high-impact minutes. Mims' scoring punch ignited several LMU runs, including a pair of timely threes that shifted momentum midway through the half.

Smith continued his reliable backcourt play, finishing the half with seven points, two assists, and two rebounds while shooting an efficient 2-of-4 from the floor. Smith knocked down Railsplitters' first triple of the game and set the tone early by attacking downhill and converting at the line (2–of-2 FT).

Defensively, the Railsplitters were anchored by Ashton Pennamon, whose activity was felt everywhere. Pennamon recorded a game-high three steals in the first half, added four points, and remained a disruptive presence in the half court and in transition. His instincts and ball pressure repeatedly generated extra opportunities for LMU.

In the frontcourt, Yassin Hussein delivered a strong two-way stretch with three points, two rebounds, one assist, one block, and one steal—an example of the balanced interior play LMU has emphasized. Emmanuel James added another block, ensuring the Railsplitters protected the rim effectively throughout the opening 20 minutes.

Sophomore guard Drew Lewis contributed two points and two rebounds, while Jayden Spearman secured a team-high three boards and added a free throw. Amhad Jarrard and Armon Jarrard also logged important rotation minutes, with Amhad adding a key layup and Armon providing steady defensive minutes off the bench.

Lincoln Memorial battled through a physical and fast-paced second half, but a series of Catawba scoring bursts and free-throw trips held the Railsplitters at arm's length in the final 20 minutes of the game.

Catawba opened the second half with steady pressure and converted early at the line, while LMU struggled to find rhythm offensively despite creating multiple second-chance opportunities. Walter Campbell sparked LMU midway through the half, scoring on a pair of strong finishes at the rim and providing key defensive rebounds. EJ Smith added a floating jumper with 16:00 remaining that pulled the Railsplitters within striking distance at 33–33.

From there, the half turned into a possession-by-possession grind. Drew Lewis delivered a timely mid-range jumper at the 16:19 mark to tie the game again, while Nate Mims and Smith combined for multiple steals to keep LMU within one possession. However, Catawba repeatedly responded at the foul line. The Catawba Indians strung together trips to the stripe and converting on a series of free throws that kept LMU from gaining momentum.

The Railsplitters' best surge came near the 15-minute mark, when Smith buried back-to-back threes—one from the wing and another off a kick-out from Pennamon—to give the Railsplitters a 36–33 lead. Catawba answered with a pair of transition conversions from Chase Daniel and a putback from Nick Walker to regain control.

Down the stretch, LMU forced several defensive stops, including blocks by Smith and strong rebounding sequences from Campbell, Aluma and James. But Catawba's ability to draw fouls and get to the line—combined with timely buckets—extended the margin back to double digits entering the final media timeout.

Despite continued fervent effort, Lincoln Memorial could not cut further into the deficit, seeing Catawba secure victory at home, 77-65.