BANNER ELK, N.C. –
LJ Rogers scored a career-high 19 points in 27 minutes off the bench, but Lees-McRae men's basketball fell to Conference Carolinas member school Emmanuel, 96-82, on Wednesday evening.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Emmanuel – 96; Lees-McRae – 82
LOCATION: McNair & Debi Tornow Court– Banner Elk, North Carolina
RECORDS: Emmanuel (8-3/2-1); Lees-McRae (7-3/2-1)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Nico Ashley opened the scoring for the Bobcats with a jumper 53 seconds into tonight's contest. Emmanuel's Tavarus Webb answered with a layup and the Lions went on a 9-0 run that was stopped by a basket from Williams Onyeodi.
- The Bobcats cut back into the Lions' lead and tied the score at 17-17 after back-to-back free throws from Timon Jones. Emmanuel then answered with an 11-0 over the next 2:44 in the first half at 28-17. Emmanuel's Chris Dees ended the half with a basket in the paint to give the Lions the 44-36 advantage.
- Jones started the second half with a basket and Jeremy Golson knocked down a three to cut the deficit to three. Rogers followed Golson with a three of his own, but Emmanuel regained the two-point lead off a made field goal from Tavarus Webb.
- The Lions built their lead back to five points after three-point play from Webb and led 60-51 with 13:31 left in regulation. The Bobcats made one more push through the middle of the half after a jumper from Jaylin Stewart at 66-59, but Emmanuel pulled away for the 96-82 league victory.
- Lees-McRae shot 45.7% (32-70) from the floor with 12 made three-pointers and 6-10 from the charity stripe. The Bobcats caused 20 Lion turnovers and converted 30 points off turnovers.
- Rogers tallied 19 points on 7-12 shooting and 5-10 from beyond the arc. Rogers added four steals, three rebounds, and three assists in the contest.
- Golson followed Rogers with 14 points on 4-6 from three-point range and Rodney Smith added 13 points in 20 minutes of action for the Bobcats. Ashley collected 10 points, five rebounds, two blocks, and one assist in 21 minutes of play. Sidney Dollar had a solid outing with nine points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
FOR THE LIONS:
- Emmanuel recorded an efficient 65.4% (34-52) from the field and mirrored their made field goals in each half with 17. KJ Jones II guided the Lions to victory with 24 points on 6-9 shooting and went 10-10 from the free-throw line. Jones added six assists, four steals, two rebounds, and one block in his performance.
- Elisee Ehuie followed with 19 points off the bench for Emmanuel and Nate Gordon registered a double-double with 17 points and 12 boards. Webb and Kendall Latney rounded out the Lions in double figures with 11 and 10, respectively.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae men's basketball faces North Greenville on Saturday, Dec. 16 in Tigerville, South Carolina. The tip-off with the Crusaders is slated 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).
