BELMONT, N.C. – Seven Bobcats scored in double figures, led by
Malik McConnell and
Jamarius Hairston with 22 and 20 points respectively, as the Lees-McRae men's basketball team shot 18 of 28 from behind the three-point line and nearly broke a pair of school records, including most points in a single game and most made three-point field goals in a single game, in a thrilling 118-113 road win at Belmont Abbey to clinch their fifth-straight win.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 118; Belmont Abbey – 113
LOCATION: Wheeler Center – Belmont, North Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (11-3/9-2), Belmont Abbey (8-7/6-5)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- McConnell shot 8 of 14 from the floor and 3 of 4 from distance to go along with four assists, while Hairston shot 6 of 11 from the field and 5 of 8 from distance.
- Drew Gardner went 4 for 4 from behind the three-point line for 16 points, with Carter Phillips and Jaylin Stewart both chipping 13 points and three rebounds.
- Sidney Dollar and Timon Jones finished with 12 and 11 points respectively, with Dollar adding four rebounds and three steals and Jones chipping in a team-high six assists.
- Both teams shot of 55 percent from the field in the first half, with the Bobcats connected on 14 of their 19 three-point attempts, with neither team holding more than a five-point lead in the first half.
- Lees-McRae used a late layup and pair of free throws by Phillips to hold a 64-62 lead at halftime.
- The Bobcats extend their lead to 77-66 on a three-point field goal by Hairston with 15:44 remaining.
- The Crusaders slowly chipped away at the lead until they used a shot from distance to even the score at 107-107 with 2:28 left.
- Lees-McRae used a pair of layups by McConnell and a free throw by Gabe Bryant to take a 112-109 lead, while also using a late jumper by Stewart to extend the lead back to 114-111 with 24 seconds remaining.
- The Bobcats closed out the conference win with a pair of free throws by Hairston and a final highlight-reel dunk by Dollar as time expired.
- Lees-McRae shot 54 percent from the field and 64 percent from distance, while also holding a 23-12 advantage in points off turnovers and a 50-34 edge in bench points.
FOR THE FOES:
- Seven Crusaders scored in double figures, led by L.J. McCoy with 21 points.
- Mario Lacy Jr. chipped in 14 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks.
NOTEWORTHY:
- Lees-McRae's 118 points are the second most in a single game in program history (The Bobcats scored 119 points in a win over Tusculum on Nov. 11, 2017).
- The Bobcats' 18 three-pointers made are the second most in program history as well (Lees-McRae made 19 three-point field goals in the win over Tusculum in 2017).
UP NEXT:
The Bobcats will travel to King on Monday, Jan. 24 for a Conference Carolinas and "Battle for the Blue Ridge Cup" contest at 7 p.m.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on Twitter (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
