Watson Pleased With His Team’s Progress Despite Sunday’s Loss To Bellarmine

GREENEVILLE, TN – The Railsplitter basketball team's 12 point 82-70 loss to Bellarmine University on Sunday puts the Lincoln Memorial men at 0-2 on the year however, LMU Head Coach Hugh Watson believes his team is showing a good deal of progress.

Before the Railsplitters' exhibition season even began, the Railsplitters lost two point guards to ACL injuries, one of their projected starting forward had a minor knee surgery and to make matters worse, after the Tennessee game, their starting center was suspended indefinitely for team rules violations.  Yes, its safe to say that most coaches would be ready to pack it in for the season with issues like the ones the Railsplitters have been dealing with in the preseason.

After falling to NCAA Division II North Georgia on Saturday in the season opener 84-61, the Railsplitters were looking notch their first win of the year against Bellarmine on Sunday.  And, although the Railsplitters lost, many of the statistical areas showed a great deal of improvement.  Shooting percentage for the game was 47.3%, free throw shooting was solid at 83.3% and the Railsplitters put a limit on the turnovers and had only 13 for the game.

Individually, sophomore Beau Brown (Athens, TN) who is playing at the point due to injuries, finally got on track offensively and was able to lead LMU in scoring with 21 points on 9-19 shooting from the floor, while senior newcomer Emmanuel Njomo (Fairfax, VA) and freshman Ryan Whitaker (Pineville, KY) each contributed 13 points.  Junior forward Terry Delaney (Murfreesboro, TN) stayed consistent, adding 11 points in 33 minutes on the floor.

Still, there is no victory for the team that ends the game with the lowest score but Watson feels the Railsplitters are coming along.  “I was pleased with the way we played,” said Watson.  “We lost by 12 but as a team we played a lot better then in Saturday’s game.”