Cooke scores 24 versus No. 3 LMU

HARROGATE, Tenn. - The Mars Hill men's basketball team (7-8, 5-4 SAC) was downed by No. 3 ranked Lincoln Memorial (16-1, 9-0 SAC) by a score of 100-79 Wednesday evening on the road.

The Lions found themselves trailing 5-2 early on in the first half before a 7-0 run, capped off by a Javonte Cooke jumper, gave them the 9-5 advantage with just over 15 minutes to play in the first.  Two minutes later, the game was knotted at 12, the Railsplitters reeled off seven straight points to take the 19-12 lead with under 11 minutes remaining in the first half.  

With under five minutes to play, Lincoln Memorial carried a 33-19 advantage.  The Lions pulled within eight points on two separate occasions, including a made jumper with 1:26 in the first half by Austin Gilyard for his 15th point of the half. 

Mars Hill scored the first four points of the second half before Lincoln Memorial responded with a 4-0 run of their own.  Trading baskets throughout the opening several minutes of the second half, the Railsplitters continued to add to their lead, going up by 18 with just over 13 minutes to play in the contest following an Anthony Brown three-pointer.  Brown was one of three Railsplitters to score double-digits in the half, netting 12.  Cameron Henry recorded 16 while Devin Whitfield scored 15 in the final 20 minutes of play.

Cooke scored 15 from the bench in the second half and ended the contest with a team-high 24 points.  Gilyard netted 21 while pulling down six rebounds.

The Lions return to action on Saturday afternoon with a 4 p.m. tilt versus Queens.