Wise, VA -- Lincoln Memorial men's basketball secured a pivotal South Atlantic Conference road victory on Wednesday night, defeating UVA-Wise 87-79 at the Prior Center. Entering the contest with a 16-10 overall record and a 12-8 mark in league play, the Railsplitters managed to close the gap on the 20-8 Cavaliers. The win was critical for postseason seeding, as UVA-Wise had held a narrow one-game lead over Lincoln Memorial in the conference standings prior to tip-off.
The Railsplitters established control early in the first half after Walter Campbell answered two opening free throws from the Cavaliers with a three-pointer. EJ Smith fueled an early surge with a fast-break layup following a steal, and Jayden Spearman pushed the lead to 12-6 with a shot from behind the arc. Lincoln Memorial's offense remained efficient throughout the period, aided by consistent perimeter shooting from Campbell and Smith. A late flurry of scoring from Armon Jarrard and a pair of free throws by Smith sent the Railsplitters into the locker room with a 54-31 advantage after connecting on 63.3% of shots from the floor, including a blistering 64% clip from long range in the first half.
UVA-Wise attempted to mount a comeback in the second half, opening the period with a layup and a free throw to trim the deficit. However, Campbell quickly halted the momentum with a three-pointer off an opponent turnover. The Cavaliers continued to chip away at the lead, utilizing a dunk and several interior baskets to pull within single digits at 76-67 with seven minutes remaining. Ar. Jarrard and Smith provided crucial late-game buckets to keep the Railsplitters ahead as the Cavaliers applied pressure.
Campbell led the Railsplitters with a game-high 24 points, including six three-pointers, and grabbed seven rebounds. Smith contributed 21 points and dished out four assists, while Ar. Jarrard added 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting. Spearman also reached double figures with 12 points and five rebounds. Lincoln Memorial shot 53.3 percent from the field and 46.7 percent from three-point range as a team, while the defense recorded seven blocks and nine steals to stifle the Cavaliers' offense.
Despite the late push by UVA-Wise, which saw the lead shrink to seven points in the final minutes, Lincoln Memorial remained composed. Smith iced the game at the free-throw line, where the team finished with a strong 81.8 percent clip. The Railsplitters' ability to move the ball was evident in their 21 total assists. With the victory, Lincoln Memorial improves to 13-8 in South Atlantic Conference play, strengthening their position as the regular season nears its conclusion on Saturday at home against Newberry.
