GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Tusculum's Connor Jordan hit the go-ahead basket with 25.3 seconds remaining as the Pioneers upset third-ranked Lincoln Memorial 80-78 Wednesday night at Pioneer Arena in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action.
It is the highest ranked opponent the Pioneers has defeated in program history, surpassing last year's 81-74 win at then No. 4 Queens University of Charlotte.
Tusculum snaps the Railsplitters' 19-game winning streak, which began ironically at Pioneer Arena last November with a 97-74 win over Clayton State in the SAC / Peach Belt Challenge.
Jordan led the Pioneers (10-7, 6-4 SAC) with 21 points including 16 markers in the first half. LMU (19-2, 9-1 SAC) was paced by Jordan Guest who scored a season-high 25 points off the bench.
Tusculum led throughout most of the game and jumped out to a 44-34 lead at halftime.
But LMU would score the first eight points of the second half to cut the deficit to 44-42 in the opening 2:16 of the period.
The teams traded baskets before TU's Makai Olden drained a three-pointer to put the Pioneers ahead 51-46.
LMU's Chase Rankin was fouled by Olden while shooting a three-pointer. After the play was over TU's Inady Legiste was called for a technical foul. LMU would miss the two technical free throws, but Rankin would connect on all three of his shots to make it a 51-49 TU lead with 16:03 remaining.
The Pioneers would move the lead back out to eight at 65-57 on a Jacob Hobbs layup. But LMU would respond with a 10-2 run and tie the game at 67-67 on Guest's jumper in the lane with 6:45 to go.
Justin Mitchell followed with a reverse layup and Legiste would make one of two free throws as Tusculum led 70-67 with 4:56 remaining.
Jordan Walters rammed home a dunk on a pass from Rankin for one of his game-high eight assists.
Connor Jordan, who missed most of the second half due to severe leg cramps, limped back into the line-up and hit a jumper with 4:19 to go for a 72-69 Tusculum lead.
After a timeout, Walters made one of two free throws for LMU, while Legiste connected on his pair for a 74-70 Pioneer lead with 3:26 remaining.
Rankin put LMU on his back as he single-handedly went on an 8-0 run, capped off by back-to-back three-pointers including a deep 26-footer to give the Railsplitters a 78-74 lead with 1:26 to go.
But on the ensuing TU possession, Legiste was left alone and he buried a three-pointer with 1:07 remaining as the Pioneers trailed 78-77.
After a LMU timeout, Hobbs came up with a steal with 43 seconds remaining. Tusculum missed three shots in the paint, before Legiste battled for the rebound and found Jordan on the left baseline. Jordan's 16-foot jumper hit the rim and rattled in for the go-ahead basket for a 79-78 lead.
After a LMU timeout, Rankin went down the right lane and put up a shot which missed and was rebounded by James West IV who was fouled with 7.8 seconds remaining. He missed the front end of the one-and-one and Quay Kennedy came up with the rebound but committed a turnover giving the ball back to Tusculum with 6.2 seconds.
Tusculum in-bounded the ball to Jordan who was fouled with 5.5 seconds left. Jordan, who entered the game as the league's top-free throw shooter (90.5%) and had made his first three attempts of the game went to the line for the bonus. He made the first, but missed the second as LMU came up with the rebound and called its last time out with three seconds left.
The Railsplitters went for the win and Guest got off a three-pointer from the right corner, but his shot hit iron as the Pioneers held on for the two-point victory.
Jordan finished the game shooting 8-of-11 from the floor and hauled in a career-high seven rebounds. Legiste added 17 points, five rebounds and matched a career-best with his six assists. Olden had a career-high 15 points in his first start of the season as he went 6-of-8 from the field including a perfect 3-of-3 from three-point territory. Hobbs added eight points, while West posted five points, four rebounds and five assists for the Pioneers.
Guest shot 10-of-19 from the floor with three 3-pointers, six rebounds including a scrappy four on the offensive glass. Rankin added 17 points, while Me'Kell Burries posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Kennedy and Walters rounded out the LMU scoring with eight markers each.
Tusculum shot 48.4 percent from the floor including 9-of-23 from three-point land. LMU shot 45 percent while connecting on eight triples. Both teams finished with 18 assists on 31 made field goals.
LMU outscored the Pioneers 44-30 in the paint and held a 14-4 advantage in fast-break points.
Tusculum opened the game scoring the first five points of the contest and led 10-5 early. With the Pioneers ahead 15-12, LMU went on a 10-3 spurt to lead 22-18.
TU erupted for a 16-2 run over span of five minutes to take a 37-27 lead with 3:58 left in the half. The run was sparked by Olden's seven points including a three-pointer and a highlight slam dunk.
Head coach J.T. Burton records his 75th victory with the Pioneers and his fifth win over a nationally-ranked opponent.
Tusculum returns to action on Saturday when they host Limestone for a 4 p.m. contest. The Pioneers defeated the Saints 71-67 earlier this month in Gaffney, South Carolina.
