Rock Hill, SC -- The South Atlantic Conference men's basketball tournament delivered a classic postseason encounter as four-seed Lincoln Memorial squared-off against five-seed Carson-Newman for a highly anticipated third meeting of the season. Following a regular season trend where the visiting team emerged victorious in both previous contests, the Railsplitters claimed the rubber match in dramatic fashion to advance in the bracket. The match up lived up to its rivalry billing, remaining undecided until the final second of play in a game defined by scoring runs..

In the closing seconds, with Carson-Newman leading 67-64, the game reached a fever pitch. After a successful free throw by the Railsplitters to push the score to 67-65, Lincoln Memorial had one final opportunity. EJ Smith stepped to the line for the Railsplitters and, trailing by two, intentionally missed his second free throw attempt. In a remarkable display of awareness, Smith tracked down his own rebound and converted a 15-foot putback while being fouled with only one second remaining on the clock. With the game tied, Smith stepped back to the charity stripe and calmly sank the bonus free throw to secure a 68-67 victory for Lincoln Memorial. 

Lincoln Memorial established its initial rhythm early, looking to get a quick jump on Carson-Newman. After the Eagles opened the scoring with a three-pointer, the Railsplitters responded with a balanced attack that saw them build a steady advantage throughout the first half. Defensive stops and transition buckets allowed Lincoln Memorial to maintain a lead for much of the period. The momentum shifted significantly just before the intermission when Ashton Pennamon launched a prayer from near half court that found the bottom of the net, giving the Railsplitters a 33-25 lead.

The second half had seen the Eagles mount a furious comeback, chipping away at a double-digit Lincoln Memorial lead. The Railsplitters had extended their cushion early in the period, at one point leading by as many as 13 points following a series of drives and successful trips to the free-throw line. Lincoln Memorial seemed to have the game under control as they held a 42-30 lead with sixteen minutes remaining. However, the Eagles responded with resilient defense and timely perimeter shooting, setting the stage for a frantic final three minutes that saw both teams trade heavy blows before the Railsplitters snatched the win in the final moment. 

With the victory, Lincoln Memorial advances to play top-seeded Anderson.