HobbsDailyReport.com
HICKORY – Lenoir-Rhyne University’s men will open the basketball season against an NCAA Division II playoff team.
The Bears, who released their schedule on Tuesday, open Nov. 10 at 3 p.m. against UNC Pembroke in the South Atlantic Conference (SAC)/Peach Belt Challenge (PBC) at Pembroke. LRU plays Francis Marion on Nov. 11 at UNC Pembroke.
UNC Pembroke won last year’s PBC tournament and advanced to the national playoffs.
SULLIVAN
“This is one of the most challenging schedules that Lenoir-Rhyne Men’s Basketball has faced in some years, both in and out of conference play,” said LRU head coach Everick Sullivan said in a press release. “Our goal is to prepare our team for a tough, non-conference schedule and an ultra-competitive South Atlantic Conference.
“We must get better throughout the preseason and season with the goal of playing our best basketball heading into the month of February.
“We want our players and our team to progress toward postseason play and we think this schedule will allow us to accomplish our goal.”
The Bears also have a home-and-home series with King and play Limestone at home on Nov. 25. The Saints were 27-6 last season, winning the Conference Carolinas regular-season and tournament title and reaching the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional tournament.
LRU, in its first year under Sullivan, went 10-17 overall and was 9-13 in the SAC.
In conference play this season, LRU will face three schools twice that earned NCAA Division II playoff bids – Lincoln Memorial (30-5), Queens (30-4) and Wingate (20-11).
BEARS’ SCHEDULE: http://www.lrbears.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball