HICKORY, N.C. — Lenoir-Rhyne's blistering first-half pace proved too much for West Virginia State to erase Friday night, sending the Yellow Jackets to a 109–90 setback at the Thanksgiving Classic inside Shuford Memorial Arena.
West Virginia State spent most of the first half playing uphill as the Bears turned defense into transition offense. LRU forced six turnovers in the opening four minutes and raced out to a 15–3 lead behind a flurry of runouts from Akili Evans and Sam Martin. Blessin Kimble added a pair of second-chance scores, and the Bears repeatedly capitalized at the rim, piling up 32 points in the paint before halftime.
The Yellow Jackets steadied themselves behind
Hassan Belkhaddar and
Ishmael Smith, who combined for 19 first-half points and hit three of WVSU's four threes.
Tyree Davis and
Camren Wilkes knocked down one each during brief momentum swings, but LRU continued to score efficiently in transition while winning the glass 25–18. The Bears shot 20-of-38 in the half and used 11 assists—six from Julian Dozier—to build a 56–33 lead at the break. WVSU stayed afloat by converting 12-of-15 free throws and getting eight points from its bench but forced only three turnovers and surrendered 19 fast-break points.
The Yellow Jackets came out with more punch in the second half, opening on a 7–2 spurt as Smith knocked down a jumper, Belkhaddar drilled a three and
Aymeric Toussaint finished in transition to cut the margin to 58–40. WVSU was far more efficient after halftime, shooting 23-of-36 from the field and piling up 38 points in the paint while forcing 10 Lenoir-Rhyne turnovers.
Jaylen Subject went to work on the glass with multiple tip-ins, Toussaint repeatedly found space at the rim, and Smith continued to attack downhill as the Jackets' bench contributed 27 second-half points.
Lenoir-Rhyne, however, had an answer for every run. Conner Tilley buried back-to-back threes, Martin added two late dunks, and Conrad Luczynski and Keyishon Miller combined for a series of interior scores that kept the Bears in control. Even as West Virginia State outscored LRU 57–53 in the second half and ramped up its defensive pressure, the early deficit proved too steep to overcome.
West Virginia State shot 36-of-70 from the field (51.4 percent), including 8-of-21 from three, and finished 10-of-21 at the line. The Yellow Jackets totaled 34 rebounds, 18 points off turnovers, 18 second-chance points, 46 points in the paint, 12 fast-break points and 37 bench points.
Lenoir-Rhyne hit 40-of-73 overall (54.8 percent), 8-of-21 from deep and 21-of-33 at the foul line, winning the rebounding battle 46–34. The Bears posted 24 assists, 18 points off turnovers, 17 second-chance points, 64 points in the paint, 26 fast-break points and 55 points from their bench.
Smith led West Virginia State with 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting, adding four rebounds and three assists. Subject delivered 18 points and seven rebounds, including four on the offensive glass. Belkhaddar added 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting with five rebounds, while Toussaint finished with 12 points and five boards. Wilkes chipped in nine points, four rebounds and two steals, and Davis added three points, four rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
Trey Harris contributed two points, three steals and a block.
Kimble paced Lenoir-Rhyne with 15 points and six rebounds. Miller totaled 13 points, five boards and two assists, while Evans matched him with 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Martin added 12 points and two blocks, and Junior Hodnett supplied 12 points with three steals. Luczynski contributed 11 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, while Dozier handed out a game-high eight assists to go with six points and two steals.
West Virginia State wraps up its trip to the Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday, facing Wingate at 2 p.m. inside Shuford Arena. The Bulldogs are coming off a heartbreaking 83–81 loss to Lee in Friday's opener, surrendering the winning layup with one second remaining. The Yellow Jackets will look to bounce back and return home with a split in Hickory.
