HARROGATE, Tenn. --- Lorenza Ross recorded 16 points and five assists to lead second-ranked Lincoln Memorial University to a 78-61 win over visiting Tusculum College Wednesday night in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action at Tex Turner Arena.

LMU (15-0, 9-0 SAC) remains undefeated on the season for the program's second best start to a campaign in program history.

Tusculum sophomore center Chase Mounce finished with 18 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots, while junior forward Matt Shown recorded 11 points and 12 boards for his third consecutive double-double.

Shown becomes the first player since former TC All-Region center Brad Hawks posted three straight double-doubles during the 2003-2004 campaign.

TC junior Javon Price was limited to eight points on the night, snapping his string of consecutive games with 20 or more points at three in a row. Senior guard Mason Fox finished with six points and four assists, while sophomore Cory Fagan also contributed six markers in the loss. Sophomore Zach Davis and freshman Gunnar Beamer contributed five points apiece.

LMU led wire-to-wire in the contest, jumping out to an 8-0 lead following a Tim Pierce layup three minutes into the game.

Trailing 10-2, the Pioneers (1-13, 1-8 SAC) responded with a 12-4 run to trim the deficit to 14-12 thanks to back-to-back baskets by Mounce and Shown with 11:42 left in the half.

With LMU leading 17-15, LMU scored seven in a row to extend its advantage to 24-15 at the 8:09 mark of the period.

But the Pioneers would not go away as TC chipped away at the deficit with a 9-2 spurt to close the gap to 26-24 following a Price jumper with 3:03 to go in the half.

The Railsplitters closed out the frame with a 9-4 run to take a 35-28 lead into the locker room.

In the second half, LMU scored the first four points of the period to take its first double-digit lead of the night at 39-28 after a Peterson layup.

Price answered with a three-pointer, the team's first trey of the contest. But Railsplitters would increase its lead to a dozen with back-to-back baskets from Ross and Dorian Pinson for a 43-31 LMU lead with 15:51 remaining in the game.

The Pioneers followed with a 9-2 run to trim the deficit to 45-40 with 12:32 on the scoreboard. With LMU leading 47-42, the Railsplitters put the game out of reach with a 15-2 spurt over a span of 5:27 to take a 64-44 lead with 7:05 to go.

The Railsplitters added to their nation's top field goal percentage defense (36.4%), by limiting the Pioneers to shoot 32 percent, including 10-of-35 in the second half (29%). Lincoln Memorial finished the night shooting 51 percent, including 19-of-35 in the final 20 minutes (54%).

Tusculum edged LMU on the boards by a 46-45 margin, including a 12-6 advantage on the offensive glass. The Railsplitters dominated the paint scoring by a 56-28 advantage and 15-1 in points off turnovers.

Mounce continues his assault on the Tusculum record book as his two blocked shots moves him to 52 for his career, taking over sole possession of fourth place in program history.

The Pioneers return to action this Saturday when they travel to Wingate University for a 4 p.m. league contest at Cuddy Arena.

- TC -