Top-Seeded, No.2 Lincoln Memorial Takes 2016 SAC Championship Tournament Title

Greenville, S.C.--- The No. 1 seeded Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters punched their ticket to the NCAA tournament with a 95-83 victory over the Wingate Bulldogs in the South Atlantic Conference Tournament Championship at Furman University's Timmons Arena on Sunday afternoon.

The Railsplitters improve to 29-2 on the year and pick up their second SAC tournament title in the past three years, while the Bulldogs fall to 22-9.

Lincoln Memorial shot a sizzling 52% (30-for-58) from the floor while connecting on 26-of-30 free-throws (86.7%). The 'Splitters had four players achieve double-digits in points, led by redshirt-junior Luquon Choice and sophomore Dorian Pinson, who totaled 20 points each. Pinson went 7-for-10 from the floor and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line, while also adding 13 rebounds and six assists. Redshirt-senior Gerel Simmons tacked on 19 points and went 9-for-9 from the charity stripe, while senior Jalon Steele added 15 points and seven rebounds.

The Railsplitters jumped out to an early 10-4 advantage at the 15:13 mark in the first half, but Wingate battled back to knot the game up at 14-all at the second media timeout of the half. Out of the media timeout, Choice drained a three to give LMU a lead they did not relinquish. Lincoln Memorial finished the contest having led for 36 of the 40 minutes.

Wingate kept hanging around in the early goings, narrowing the score to 19-18 with 10:45 left in the half, but a pair of free-throws by Simmons and a three-pointer from Steele increased the lead back to six at 24-18.

The Railsplitters came out of the third media timeout and went on a 10-1 run to increase the lead from 28-24 to 38-25. However, the 'Dogs scored eight of the next 12 points to cut the lead to 42-32 in favor of the top-seed at the last media mark of the half.

Lincoln Memorial immediately came out of the timeout and proceeded to score eight of the last 10 points in the last 2:55 of the half to take a comfortable 50-34 lead at the break.

The Railsplitters shot 49% (16-of-33) in the half, but were 4-for-9 from beyond the arc and a perfect 14-for-14 from the free-throw line. Wingate converted 11 of their 33 shots in the first period and notched 8-of-11 free-throws. Choice posted 12 points and Pinson added 11 points and six rebounds for LMU, while Zeriq Lolar had 10 points for the 'Dogs.

The Bulldogs took 12 of the first 18 points to begin the second half, eight of which coming from Mike Baez, but Lincoln Memorial came back after the media timeout to increase the lead to 66-53 with 12:39 left in the game.

Wingate did not roll over, however, and clawed their way back to within 10, with the score at 75-68 with 7:25 left to play. LMU pushed back out to an 87-72 advantage, but the Dogs' again closed the gap as an Isiah Cureton three-pointer cut the lead to 87-75 with 4:02 to play.

A pair of free-throws by Xavier Griffin and a Cureton layup took the score to 87-79, however, the Railsplitters closed out the contest by taking eight of the last 12 points of the contest, with a Hunter Spaw free-throw concluding the scoring at 95-83.

Wingate shot 41% in the second half on their way to outscoring the 'Splitters 49-45, but LMU owned a 56% clip from the floor in the second half, connecting on 14 of their 25 attempted shots.

The Bulldogs had five players score double digits, led by Cureton, who tabbed 22 points and pulled down seven rebounds. Baez, X. Griffin and Keith Griffin all added 15 points each and Lolar finished the contest with 10 points.

The 2016 SAC Championship all-tournament team was comprised of Baez, Cureton, Choice, Simmons and Steele. Choice was also tabbed the MVP.

Both Lincoln Memorial and Wingate await their post-season fates for the NCAA Tournament tonight, which will be announced on the link below tonight at 10:30 pm EST.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH SELECTION SHOW!!!

2016 SAC Men's Basketball All-Tournament Team
Luquon Choice, Lincoln Memorial, (MVP)
Gerel Simmons, Lincoln Memorial
Jalen Steele, Lincoln Memorial
Mike Baez, Wingate
Isiah Cureton, Wingate