BREVARD, N.C. - Sixteenth-ranked Lincoln Memorial's second-half shooting proved too much for the Brevard to overcome as the Railsplitters defeated the Tornados 88-67 at Boshamer Gymnasium Monday afternoon.
The game was tied at 38 at the break after a clinical shooting performance by the Tornados (2-7, 1-3 SAC) during the first 20 minutes. Brevard shot 50.0 percent on its 26 first-half field goal attempts while limiting Lincoln Memorial (8-1, 4-0 SAC) to 11 made baskets on 28 shots, including a 4-for-14 ledger from beyond the arc. But the Railsplitters rebounded in the second half to shoot 54.8 percent (17-for-31) and knock down seven triples on their way to outscoring Brevard 50-29 after the break.
Brevard limited one of the nation's best scoring and rebounding teams to nine points and 12 rebounds below their season averages. But the Railsplitters were opportunistic, turning nine offensive rebounds into a 15-2 advantage in second chance points and 14 Brevard turnovers into 23 points. Lincoln Memorial also went an impressive 21-for-23 at the free throw line as the teams combined for an 85.7 percent shooting performance at the charity stripe.
A Miles Leathers jumper followed by a dunk and layup by Demarcus Threatt gave Brevard its largest lead at six points midway through the first half of a game that saw 11 ties and eight lead changes. But the Railsplitters used seven straight points to vault back into the lead before the teams continued to trade blows throughout the remainder of the half. One of Luquon Choice's six three-point field goals tied the game at the first half buzzer and set the tone for the second stanza.
Lincoln Memorial saw its lead swell to 12 points five minutes into the half as the Railsplitters embarked on a 15-3 run punctuated by a Gerel Simmons triple. The Tornados roared back to cut the lead to as few as six points on an Alex Moe jumper in transition at the 8:29 mark, but 10 straight Lincoln Memorial points over the next 70 seconds sealed Brevard's fate.
Leathers scored 12 points to give him 985 in his career. He also tied a pair of significant NCAA-era records with four assists and a pair of steals. Leathers's 205 helpers are tied with Dominique Pickett for the career lead, while his 133 career steals equaled Josh Roper's mark. He will look to take over the lead in both categories while becoming the fourth NCAA-era Tornados to top 1,000 points during Saturday's contest with Wingate.
Threatt led the Tornados with 18 points. He also set a pair of career highs with six rebounds and two blocks. Moe also scored in double figures for the sixth time this season, contributing 14 points and four rebounds. Brevard, which was held without a blocked shot for the first time in 27 games against Coker Saturday, rejected four Railsplitters' shots to tie for its second-highest mark this season.
Lincoln Memorial had five players in double figures, including three notching at least 20 points. Mississippi State transfer Jalen Steele led all scorers with 23, had a game-high nine rebounds, and was one of three Railsplitters to record four assists. LMU moved into a tie for first in the South Atlantic Conference with the victory, equaling No. 17 Queens's 4-0 mark in league play.
Brevard will seek its second SAC win of the season on Saturday against Wingate. Tipoff against the Bulldogs, ranked No. 5 in the latest Southeast Region poll, is slated for 4:00 p.m.
