Harrogate, TN -- The Lincoln Memorial University men's basketball team returns to B. Frank "Tex" Turner Arena on Friday at 4 p.m. to host Catawba College in a key South Atlantic Conference match up. Catawba enters the game ranked second in the SAC standings with a 15-4 overall record and a 10-3 mark in conference play, while Lincoln Memorial comes in at 12-7 overall and 8-5 in league action. The Catawba Indians took the first meeting of the season in Salisbury with a 77-65 victory, giving the Railsplitters added motivation to even the season series on their home floor.

Lincoln Memorial features a balanced lineup led by Nate Mims, who paces the team with 11.1 points per game while also averaging 4.4 rebounds. Walter Campbell adds 10.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per contest while shooting 57.3 percent from the field, and Jayden Spearman contributes 9.7 points per game and leads the team in three-pointers made with 43 on the season. EJ Smith provides steady backcourt production with 9.3 points per game and shoots 90.3 percent from the free-throw line, while Armon Jarrard averages 8.4 points and is a consistent perimeter shooter. Yassin Hussein adds 8.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while shooting 57.3 percent from the floor, and Drew Lewis contributes 8.1 points per contest with strong two-way play. Ashton Pennamon directs the offense with a team-high 38 assists, Amhad Jarrard shoots over 51 percent from the field while averaging 6.0 points, and Emmanuel James provides energy off the bench with 5.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and a team-leading 30 blocks.

As a team, the Railsplitters are averaging 80.4 points per game while holding opponents to 75.1, showcasing their ability to score efficiently while maintaining defensive pressure. With conference standings tightening and a chance for redemption against one of the league's top teams, Lincoln Memorial will look to capitalize on home-court advantage in what shapes up to be a pivotal SAC contest.