HARROGATE, Tenn. --- Vincent Bailey recorded 25 points and eight rebounds to lead the 14th-ranked Lincoln Memorial men's basketball team to an 84-49 South Atlantic Conference win over in-state foe Tusculum Monday night at Tex Turner Arena.
The Railsplitters (20-2, 16-2 SAC) maintain their three-game lead in the league standings, while sweeping the season series over the Pioneers (3-21, 2-16 SAC).
Tusculum center Chase Mounce had an outstanding game as the redshirt freshman accounted for his first collegiate double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Mounce also posted a season-high five blocked shots, tied for the fourth most in TC single-game history.
Bailey finished the game shooting 11-of-17 from the floor and 3-of-5 from the free throw line. LMU teammates Luquon Choice added 18 markers off the bench, while shooting 5-of-6 from three-point territory. Curtis McMillion posted 12 points and 13 rebounds, while Keenan Peterson added 11 boards for the Railsplitters.
Tusculum junior Darius Carter posted 15 points, while senior Addison Flynn was limited to five points and three assists for the Pioneers.
LMU used a 15-4 run early in the first half to spark the Railspitters to a 44-23 advantage at the intermission.
Tusculum answered with a 9-2 spurt to start the second period to trim the deficit to 46-32 with 16:09 remaining. LMU bounced the league back to 22 (61-39) following a Choice three-pointer. But TC fought back with seven straight points including a three-play by Mason Fox, two free throws from Cory Fagan and a Mounce basket as the Pioneers trailed 61-46.
LMU put the game out of reach with a 12-0 run, including eight points from Bailey as the Railsplitters sealed the victory.
Lincoln Memorial, which entered the game leading the nation in rebound margin, added to that statistic as the Railsplitters out-rebounded Tusculum by a 59-30 margin, including 21-5 on the offensive boards resulting into 25 second-chance points for LMU.
Tusculum finished the game with nine blocked shots which are tied for the sixth most in school history, matching the nine rejections at LMU on Feb. 3, 1999. Mounce also becomes the first player to post five blocked shots in a game since Brad Hawks in 2004 against Newberry.
Tusculum returns to action Wednesday night to host cross-mountain rival Mars Hill for an 8 p.m. contest at Pioneer Arena. Wednesday is "Pack the Arena" Night as all fans will be admitted free. TC will close out the season playing three of its remaining four games at home.
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