Storylines – vs. Lincoln Memorial University
Starting the 2017-18 campaign on a four-game win streak, the No. 4 ranked Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters will host the UVa-Wise men's basketball team on Saturday in an attempt to stay undefeated. The Railsplitters went 30-6 overall in the 2016-17 season, finishing 19-3 in the South Atlantic Conference. LMU concluded last season being named the South Atlantic Conference Regular Season Champions, the NCAA Southeast Region Tournament Champions and a NCAA National Championship Semifinalist. Defeating Chico State, 74-61, in last season's NCAA Division II National Quarterfinal, the Railsplitters were ultimately routed by No. 1 Northwest Missouri State, 79-67. LMU opened this season participating in the SAC vs. Conference Carolinas Challenge as the Railsplitters defeated Lees-McRae, 100-80, and King University, 94-60. In the Railsplitters home opener, LMU outlasted Shorter University, 88-64. LMU and Shorter would meet up again just days later as the Hawks hosted the Railsplitters for a Tuesday night matchup. The result would be no different with LMU winning the game by a score of 88-65. The Railsplitters were picked to finish second in the SAC preseason poll with 91 points and two first-place votes. Senior Dorian Pinson was selected as a preseason All-American recording 12.5 ppg and 8.1 rebounds per game last year. Redshirt-senior Trevon Shaw and senior Emanuel Terry were named to the preseason All-SAC second team. Through four games, Shaw leads LMU in scoring with 85 points, averaging 21.3 ppg. Terry records for the most rebounds for the Railsplitters, registering 13.5 rebounds per game. Following LMU's home matchup against UVa-Wise, the Railsplitters will travel to Grenville, Tenn. to take on the Pioneers of Tusculum College on Wednesday with tip-off scheduled for 8 p.m.
About UVa-Wise
Men's basketball returned home after surviving Notre Dame, 102-101, in double-overtime to complete its conference opening road trip. Recording over 100 points for the second time this season, UVa-Wise earned its first home win of the year against a then-undefeated Berea College on Tuesday, 103-70. In the win, four Cavaliers saw career-highs including sophomore point guard Michal Seals who registered a career-high 12 assists. Hitting 5-of-12 from the beyond the arc, senior guard DeMarcus Edwards posted a career-high 15 points while redshirt-freshman Michael Osborne's 3-of-6 shooting gave him a career-high seven points. Junior guard Rahji Langford went 4-of-5 from the floor to earn his career-high 14 points and seven rebounds. So far this season, Badmus leads all Cavaliers in scoring and rebounding, averaging 18.2 ppg and 7.5 rebounds per game.
