Powell nets 24 in SAC Quarterfinal versus No. 2 LMU

HARROGATE, Tenn. - The Mars Hill men's basketball team (12-17) had their season come to an end on Wednesday night in the South Atlantic Conference quarterfinal contest versus No. 2 ranked Lincoln Memorial (30-1) by a score of 101-65.

The Lions trailed 8-7 with just over four minutes played in the contest before Lincoln Memorial made their run.  With the teams trading points until the 12-10 mark, the Railsplitters reeled off 12 straight points and 15 of the next 17 to go up 27-12 with under nine minutes remaining in the half.  They built their lead to as many as 26 in the half as Rhondi Hackett hit a jump shot with 4:14 left in the half.

After the first 20 minutes of play, the Railsplitters led 49-25.  Hackett led all players with 16 points in the frame followed by Devin Whitfield's 12.  Ja'Shawn Brooks led all Lions with seven points.  

Matthew Powell shone offensively for the Lions in the second half, hitting four three-pointers and recording 18 of his team-high 24 points in the final 20 minutes of the contest.  The senior went 7-of-9 from the floor and collected two rebounds in 14 minutes of action.  

Whitfield led Lincoln Memorial with 18 of his game-high 30 points in 15 minutes of play, also shooting 7-of-9 from the floor.  Cameron Henry added 13 points from the bench.

The Railsplitters shot just shy of 53 percent from the floor, including 10 made three-pointers.  The Railsplitters also outrebounded the Lions by a mark of 50-34, using the fast break to their advantage, outscoring Mars Hill 38-4.

Mars Hill ends their 2019-20 campaign with a 12-17 overall record and their first SAC tournament appearance in 10 years.