Harrogate, TN -- The Lincoln Memorial University men's basketball team is set to renew its historic rivalry with Carson-Newman University this Wednesday, Feb. 11, inside B. Frank Tex Turner Arena. The Railsplitters enter the match up tied for fourth place in the South Atlantic Conference standings with a 14-8 overall record and a 10-6 mark in league play. They will face a Carson-Newman squad that travels to Harrogate with a 13-9 overall record and an 8-8 conference standing. This meeting marks the second time the programs have squared off this season, following a 70-58 Lincoln Memorial victory in Jefferson City back on Jan. 14.
Lincoln Memorial holds a 119-105 advantage in the all-time series and has been particularly dominant at home with a 66-40 record against the Eagles in Harrogate. The Railsplitters have won five straight games against their in-state rivals, including a 95-85 win the last time the two teams met at Tex Turner Arena on Feb. 26, 2025. Carson-Newman has not tasted victory in the series since Jan. 31, 2024, and the Eagles are currently looking to snap a ten-game losing streak in Harrogate that dates back to Feb. 4, 2015.
A win on Wednesday would carry significant historical weight for the Railsplitters as they pursue their first six-game winning streak in the series since the 1976-78 seasons. This match up also adds another chapter to the legacy of the arena, which became the home of the program following the final game played at Mary Mars Gym on Jan. 21, 1991. Lincoln Memorial aims to protect its home floor where it has historically held a clear upper hand against the visitors from Jefferson City.
The Railsplitters' attack is led by Nate Mims, who averages 11.9 points per game and has provided a steady presence with 18 starts this season. He is joined in the frontcourt by Walter Campbell, who contributes 10.6 points and a team-high 6.1 rebounds per contest while shooting an efficient 56.2 percent from the floor. Jayden Spearman provides additional perimeter scoring with 9.7 points per game and leads the team with 53 made three-pointers. Other key contributors include EJ Smith, who facilitates the offense with 47 assists, and Yassin Hussein, who adds 8.3 points per game and remains a defensive threat with 10 blocked shots on the season.
The rotation is bolstered by Armon Jarrard and Drew Lewis, who both average 8.0 points per game, along with Ashton Pennamon and Amhad Jarrard. Lincoln Memorial continues to rely on its depth and defensive pressure, as evidenced by its 10.9 steals per game and a scoring margin of 4.8 points over its opponents. As the South Atlantic Conference race intensifies, both teams view this Wednesday night clash as a pivotal opportunity to improve their standing as the postseason approaches.
