MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Lane College edged out LeMoyne-Owen 77-72 on Saturday in a back-and-forth rivalry game. The Dragons dominated the first half and held off the Magicians second half surge.
First Half:
Lane took an early lead with a solid first-half performance, heading into the break up 37-27. Rico Sain II was a key factor in the first half, contributing 22 points, including going 9-of-10 from the free-throw line. Despite some cold shooting from deep, where Lane was just 4-of-11 from beyond the arc, the Dragons found success inside, scoring 34 points in the paint.
LeMoyne-Owen, led by Austin Jordan’s 23 points, kept the game within reach in the opening 20 minutes, but poor shooting from beyond the arc (just 1-of-6) and only 40% from the free-throw line prevented the Magicians from cutting into Lane’s lead further.
Second Half:
The Magicians came alive after halftime, mounting a strong comeback effort. LeMoyne-Owen shot 45.5% from the field in the second half, with Jordan and Khalil Genwright (18 points) leading the charge. The Magicians’ defense tightened, and they capitalized on second-chance opportunities, scoring 19 points off offensive rebounds.
Despite the Magicians’ best efforts, Lane’s offense remained steady. Elijah Greer Dawson (10 points) and Christopher Matthews (12 points, 4-of-7 from three) provided crucial scoring, especially in the second half, helping Lane maintain its advantage. The Dragons managed to close out the game at the free-throw line, hitting 12-of-20 in the final 20 minutes, sealing the win with a 77-72 final score.
Key Stats:
- Points in the Paint: Lane 34, LeMoyne-Owen 40
- Fast Break Points: Lane 9, LeMoyne-Owen 13
- Points off Turnovers: Lane 23, LeMoyne-Owen 13
- Bench Contributions: Lane 33, LeMoyne-Owen 13
Key Players:
- Lane College: Rico Sain II led the Dragons with 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. Matthews’ shooting from three-point range (4-of-7) proved vital in the second half.
- LeMoyne-Owen: Austin Jordan had a standout performance with 23 points, while Genwright added 18 points and 4 assists.
