MARS HILL, N.C. –
Jaylin Stewart made the biggest shot of the night for the Lees-McRae men's basketball team after calmly knocking down a mid-range jumper with 3.9 seconds remaining in Monday's contest at Mars Hill for the 69-67 victory.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 69; Mars Hill – 67
LOCATION: Stanford Arena – Mars Hill, North Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (5-8/1-5), Mars Hill (2-8/0-3)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Bobcats started out quickly on offense with a fastbreak layup by Williams Onyeodi off the opening tip won by Nico Ashley. Justin Nichelson doubled lead with another fastbreak layup 38 seconds into this evening's matchup.
- Lees-McRae extended its lead to 11-5 after a jumper via Stewart with 15:14 left in the first half as the Bobcats went on a 7-0 run to take the 11-5 advantage.
- Mars Hill went into the halftime break with the five-point lead after Prosper Obidiebube connected on a layup with seconds left in the first half.
- In the second half, Lees-McRae closed the margin to one point after Ashley buried a three at the 18:36 mark off an assist by Timon Jones. Stewart recorded a layup to knot the score at 41 apiece and made his second free throw to give the Bobcats the 42-41 edge with 14:29 remaining in the second half.
- The lead changed the next six minutes before Onyeodi registered a three-point play with 8:18 left in the contest at 57-55. Nichelson added to the Bobcats advantage at 61-55 off a layup at the 5:32 mark.
- Mars Hill evened the score at 63-63 on a two made free throws by Kory Davis, but Stewart was clutch down the stretch with a layup with 2:39 remaining.
- The Lions answered once more late as Rajuan Conner made both his free throws off a Stewart foul, but Stewart claimed victory for Lees-McRae with his game-winning jumper at 69-67.
- Nichelson had a season-high 20 points on 8-13 from the floor and added five rebounds. Stewart tallied 15 points on 7-11 from the field and two steals.
- Ashleu poured in nine points and nine rebounds in 26 minutes and Onyeodi filled the stat sheet with eight points and five boards.
- Matthew Knafelz, a freshman from Charlotte, N.C., scored his first points of his collegiate career as he went 2-2 from the charity stripe in the win.
- Lees-McRae scored 22 points off 20 Lion turnovers as the Bobcats earned the season sweep this evening in Mars Hill.
FOR THE LIONS:
- Conner matched Nichelson with a game-high 20 points as made 10 free throws in the game for Mars Hill.
- Kory Davis followed in the scoring columns with 16 points for the Lions.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae will face No. 7/8 Lincoln Memorial on New Year's Eve in Harrogate, Tennessee. The tip-off from the campus of Lincoln Memorial is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on Twitter (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
