LMU BASKETBALL NEWS

LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY

OFFICE OF SPORTS INFORMATION

Sports Release                                                                     February 20, 2006

A Disappointing Season to Build On


Senior Stevie Akridge attempts the lay-up in his final game as a Railsplitter.  Photo by Ray Welch

HARROGATE, TN – Saturday evening’s 74-66 loss to Ed Murphy and the University of West Georgia brought to a close another frustrating season for the Lincoln Memorial University men’s basketball program. (Box score)

The Lincoln Memorial men had a chance down the stretch to possibly end the season on a positive note, but as has been the case many times this season, the opportunity slipped away from the Railsplitters in the final two minutes of the contest, this time ending LMU’s season at 7-20 overall.

For seniors Stevie Akridge (Grand Rapids, MI) and Kenneth Fox (Lexington, KY) the two would go down swinging.  Akridge scored a team-high 17 points, while pulling five rebounds and Fox played his last game as a Railsplitters by finishing with 16 points and six boards.  For fellow teammate Renaldo Maxwell (Orange Park, FL), a role in the starting lineup marked a tribute to the senior in his final game with LMU, but offensively he was held to just two points to end his collegiate career.

Over the past two seasons the Railsplitters have won only 12 games in 54 outings.  That being said, LMU Head Coach Hugh Watson stated in his post game show interview Saturday night, “it’s not acceptable.  We have got to get out and get better player for next season.  I promise Railsplitter fans, we will turn things around next season.”

While LMU won’t have the rigorous travel next season they were forced to endure for nearly 15 years in the Gulf South Conference, the competition level is just as strong.  Each season the South Atlantic Conference sends at least one of its member institutions to the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament and in many cases more then on team.  LMU will enter a league that welcomes its arrival, but has no intentions of allowing the Railsplitters to come in and run through the conference and into a national tournament bid.

Yes, it’s been a long season, one that has at times tried the emotions of LMU faithful, but never the heart.  Since joining the NCAA in the early 90’s, many LMU fans have longed for the rivalries that once were with the likes of Carson-Newman and Tusculum College.  Next season, that will again be a reality.  Let’s hope that with that change, so will LMU basketball come full circle and again rise to the top against its future opponents.  And so goes the old saying, “wait until next season.”

-LMU-

For additional comments please contact,
Men's Head Coach: Hugh Watson
Phone: (423) 869-6240