Lenoir-Rhyne Basketball Secures Back-to-Back NCAA Tournament Bids
The Lenoir-Rhyne men’s basketball team (24-8, 17-5 SAC) is heading back to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year, earning a #4 seed in the NCAA Southeast Regional. The tournament will be hosted by #1 seed Anderson University in Anderson, South Carolina.
Reigning Region Champions Return to the Big Stage
This marks the ninth NCAA Tournament appearance for the Bears, and they enter the competition as the defending Southeast Region champions, having defeated UNC Pembroke in last year’s championship game. Lenoir-Rhyne previously qualified for back-to-back tournaments in 2003-2004 and 2008-2009.
A Familiar Foe in the First Round
Lenoir-Rhyne will face #5 seeded North Georgia (22-7, 14-6 PBC) in the opening round on Saturday. North Georgia recently fell to Lander in the Peach Belt Championship. Interestingly, this matchup features the champions of the last two regional tournaments – North Georgia won the title in 2024.
The two teams have a limited history, having only played once before, with Lenoir-Rhyne winning 58-52 in the 1975-76 season.
Southeast Regional Quarterfinal Schedule
The Southeast Regional bracket is set as follows:
- #1 Anderson (29-2) vs. #8 Young Harris (22-8)
- #2 Lander (25-5) vs. #7 Lincoln Memorial (19-11)
- #3 Catawba (23-8) vs. #6 Columbus State (22-8)
- #4 Lenoir-Rhyne (24-8) vs. #5 North Georgia (22-7)
Bears Boast Impressive Individual and Team Stats
Lenoir-Rhyne enters the tournament with several standout performers and impressive team statistics:
- Akili Evans was named SAC Newcomer of the Year.
- Tyler Burraston set a novel school record with 105 three-pointers this season.
- Burraston ranks second nationally in three-pointers made and third in three-point percentage (45.9%).
- Luczynski set a school record with 78 blocks, ranking fourth nationally.
- Luczynski also boasts a 66.7% field goal percentage, placing him third in the country.
- The Bears lead the nation in three-point percentage (40.7%) and rank third in overall field goal percentage (51.4%).
- They have shot above 50% from the field in 23 of their 32 games this year.
- Head coach Brent Owen secured his 50th win as a Bear this year and has 99 career wins.
Regional Qualification Process
The Southeast Region automatic qualifiers are determined by the winners of the South Atlantic, Conference Carolinas, and Peach Belt Conference tournaments. The remaining five teams are selected as at-large bids from those three conferences.
FAQ
Q: Where will the NCAA Southeast Regional tournament be held?
A: The tournament will be hosted on the campus of Anderson University in Anderson, South Carolina.
Q: When does Lenoir-Rhyne play its first tournament game?
A: Lenoir-Rhyne will face North Georgia on Saturday.
Q: How many times has Lenoir-Rhyne been to the NCAA Tournament?
A: This represents the ninth NCAA Tournament appearance for the Bears.
Q: Who is Lenoir-Rhyne’s head coach?
A: Brent Owen is the head coach of the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears.
Q: What are some of Lenoir-Rhyne’s key player accomplishments?
A: Akili Evans was named SAC Newcomer of the Year, and Tyler Burraston set a school record for three-pointers made.
Stay tuned for further information regarding ticket availability, game times, live stats, and media coverage, which will be released later this week.
