BOONE, N.C. – Five different Bobcats recorded double-digit points, but Lees-McRae men's basketball fell to South Atlantic Conference member Carson-Newman, 87-82, in the final game of the Conference Carolinas vs. SAC Challenge on Sunday.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Carson-Newman – 87; Lees-McRae – 80
LOCATION: Holmes Convocation Center – Boone, North Carolina
RECORDS: Carson-Newman (3-1/0-0), Lees-McRae (1-1/0-0
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Ja'Quavian Florence started the game with a mid-range jumper to give Lees-McRae the early 2-0 lead. Carson-Newman gained the lead with back-to-back three-pointers and a 11-6 advantage at the first media timeout.
- Anthony Parker knocked down a three with 11:29 left in the first off an assist from Drew Redmond as the Bobcats tied the game at 13-13. Carson-Newman pushed its lead to double digits at 27-17 after a 14-2 run over a span of four minutes. Lees-McRae cut the deficit to five at the halftime break with a basket from Nico Ashley.
- Florence trimmed the Eagle lead to three points off a triple with 17:33 to go in the second half. Carson-Newman moved its lead back to nine points after a jumper from Braden Ilic.
- Travis Pourciau followed up an offensive rebound with a dunk at the 11:33 mark as the Bobcats continued to battle inside the Holmes Convocation Center.
- Carson-Newman's Matt Bilbrey played a factor for the Eagles with eight points in one minute and 27 seconds after converting on two triples and layup. The Eagles led 70-56 with 7:29 remaining in the contest and C-N collected its third win of the season at 87-80 on Sunday afternoon.
- Nigel Okwakol had a team-high 15 points on 5-9 shooting and recorded six rebounds and one block. Florence and Parker tallied 14 points apiece.
- DJ Kent poured in 13 points and hauled in nine rebounds, two assists, and one steal in 27 minutes of action. Ashley rounded out the Bobcats in double-digit scoring with 12 points on 5-9 shooting.
- Lees-McRae shot 41.4% (29-70) from the floor with 10 made three-pointers and 12-24 from the free-throw line.
FOR THE EAGLES:
- Nick Brenegan led all scorers on the day with 24 points on 6-12 shooting and a perfect 8-8 from the charity stripe. Ilic followed with 16 points on 6-6 from the field and Jack Browder had a double-double with 12 points and 13 boards. Trey Hubbard joined his fellow Eagles with 10 points in the start.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae men's basketball faces Anderson University on Thursday, November 14 at 7 p.m. in Anderson, South Carolina.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on X (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
