March 15, 2008

Lenoir-Rhyne Eliminates Virginia Union, 76-68

Augusta, Ga. - Lenoir-Rhyne junior guuard Josh Rudder (Graham, N.C./Southern Alamance HS) tallied 22 points as the Bears earned their first NCAA Tournament win with a 76-68 victory over Virginia Union Saturday night in the fourth quarterfinal game of the 2008 NCAA South Atlantic Regional in Christenberry Fieldhouse.

With the victory, L-R improved to 23-6 and will face No. 8 seed Clayton State. The Lakers -- the Peach Belt Conference Tournament champions -- stunned top-seeded USC Aiken 60-58 for the second time in six days. The loss ended the Panthers’ season at 22-8 overall.

Senior forward Reggie Bratton (Charlotte, N.C./West Charlotte HS) and junior forward Elliott McDowell (Canton, N.C./Pisgah HS) booked 14 and 12, points respectively for the Bears, who jumped out to a 13-6 advantage in the first five minutes of the game and never trailed.

All-South Atlantic Region first-team selection Brad Byerson notched a game-high 25 points and added seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks for Virginia Union. Gregg Thondique added 15 points off the bench for the Panthers. VU actually outshot the Bears, but connected on just 1-of-10 3-point attempts. Lenoir-Rhyne ended the first half on an 11-2 run over the final 5:15 to take a 34-25 halftime lead.

L-R increased its advantage to 11 on the first basket of the second half before Virginia Union responded with an 8-0 run to get within three at the 17:26 mark. The Panthers cut their deficit to three on four other occasions, but never got any closer the rest of the way.

(Story courtesy of the Augusta State sports information office.)

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