Harrogate, TN – The day began with the smell of love in the air, but ended with the smell of victory. The Lincoln Memorial men's basketball team delivered a signature victory on Valentine's Day, upending fifth-ranked Anderson University 87-78 at B. Frank Tex Turner Arena. The Railsplitters relied on a balanced offensive attack and timely defensive stops to hand the conference-leading Trojans just their second loss of the season. Walter Campbell led the charge for the Railsplitters with a double-double, finishing with 20 points and 14 rebounds while shooting an efficient 6-of-10 from the floor.
The contest began with both sides trading early blows as EJ Smith opened the scoring for the Railsplitters with a jumper in the paint. Anderson responded with a quick spurt to take a 10-8 lead before Nate Mims sparked a 10-5 run for the hosts, capped by a jumper that extended the cushion to 20-15. Lincoln Memorial continued to build momentum through the midway point of the first half as Armon Jarrard and Drew Lewis buried back-to-back triples to push the advantage to double digits at 26-15. Despite a late push by the Trojans, Jayden Spearman and Ashton Pennamon combined for late scores to help the Railsplitters maintain a 41-32 lead heading into the locker room.
The second half saw Anderson fight back to within three points following a quick 9-3 run, but Lincoln Memorial answered with poise. Pennamon and Campbell regained control for the Railsplitters, hitting critical three-pointers to keep the visitors at arm's length. Emmanuel James provided a physical presence off the bench, contributing six points and a pair of thunderous dunks that energized the home crowd. Every time the Trojans threatened to close the gap, Lincoln Memorial found an answer, whether through Lewis's timely perimeter shooting or Mims's steady hand at the free-throw line, where he finished a perfect 6-of-6.
Down the stretch, the Railsplitters showcased their mental toughness at the charity stripe to seal the upset. Pennamon was instrumental in the closing minutes, finishing with 14 points and going 6-of-6 from the free-throw line, including four clutch shots in the final minute. Jarrard also added late free throws and a critical steal to ensure the Trojans could not mount a final comeback. Lincoln Memorial finished the afternoon shooting 54 percent from the field and 52 percent from beyond the arc, marking one of their most efficient offensive performances of the season.
With the victory, the Railsplitters improve their standing in the South Atlantic Conference and extend their formidable record at Tex Turner Arena. Spearman finished the day with 10 points, while Mims added 11 points and two blocks.
