MEN'S BASKETBALL GRINDS OUT WIN OVER SHAWNEE STATE; THIRD STRAIGHT HOME WIN

Columbia, Ky — The Lindsey Wilson men's basketball team snapped a two-game losing skid with a home win against Shawnee State (Ohio) on Saturday, 81-70. This win marks the third consecutive home conference victory for the Blue Raiders for the first time since the 2017-18 season. LWC improves its home record to 6-7 and now holds a 9-16 overall season record.

Three Blue Raiders ended in double figures in the scoring category as Payton Cundiff led the way with 22 points on another great shooting performance. Cundiff now has three 20-point games this season as he knocked down five from deep while shooting 62 percent from the field. Johrdon Mumford finished with 13 points of his own followed by 10 points from Rodney Lewis who was one assist away from a double-double.

Shawnee State got off to a quick start to begin this matchup as they took an early 10-3 lead in the first minutes of the game. The Bears were able to manage the early lead throughout the first part of the half until the Blue Raiders settled in to tie the game at 16 apiece at the 10:34 mark.

LWC battled back and forth with SSU to finally take the lead on a 4-point play from Cundiff that sparked a quick 7-2 run for Lindsey Wilson with help from forced turnovers. The Blue Raiders scored 18 points off turnovers in the first half which allowed them to control the pace and take a 42-37 lead into halftime.

The Bears started out the second half with more intensity and picked up the pace of the contest which got tempers to rise from both squads. SSU was able to cut the lead to one after a momentum putback jam from Latavious Mitchell with just five minutes played in the half. 

A response three-pointer by Lewis led to a 10-0 run for Lindsey Wilson that kept them ahead for the majority of the half until Shawnee State battled back to tie it at 64-64 with 4:26 remaining. The Blue Raiders then closed the game out on a 17-6 run to get the 81-70 victory over the Bears to mark their third straight win at home. 

Lindsey Wilson outrebounded SSU in the second half 21-18 after being dominated on the glass in the first half, 22-11. Lucas Rebeiro led the team in rebounds with nine along with six points and three blocks. 

The Blue Raiders are back in action at Biggers Sports Center on Thursday, Feb. 16 when they take on the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) at 7:30 p.m. CT.