Gaffney, S.C. – Limestone's men's basketball team fell to Newberry, 88-78, in a competitive South Atlantic Conference matchup. Both teams now hold a 7-9 overall record, with Limestone at 4-8 in the SAC and Newberry improving to 4-6 in conference play. 

Key Players: 

• Sirr Hughes (Cleveland Heights, Ohio): Led all scorers with 27 points, adding 2 rebounds and 3 assists. 

• Emmanuel Okogie (Toronto, Canada): Contributed 19 points, 4 rebounds, and several key plays in transition. 

• Trevon Payton (Lilburn, Ga.): Recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. 

Story of the Game: 

First Half: 

• Limestone started well, with early baskets by Okogie and Trevon Payton giving the Saints a 9-6 lead. 

• Newberry used a 10-2 run midway through the half, sparked by James Lovorn's three-pointer and Malakhi Stremlow's inside presence, to claim a 22-20 advantage. 

• Hughes kept Limestone in the game, scoring 14 first-half points, including three three-pointers, to close the gap to one possession. 

• Limestone capitalized on Newberry turnovers, scoring 10 points off takeaways, but struggled to defend the paint, where Newberry tallied 28 points in the half. 

• Drew Robinson controlled the pace for Newberry, adding 6 first-half points and dishing out key assists during a late 8-2 run. 

• Both teams exchanged leads seven times in the half before Newberry entered the break with a slim 41-38 edge. 

Second Half: 

• Limestone came out strong after halftime, with Okogie drilling a three-pointer and Hughes scoring inside to tie the game at 43-43. 

• Newberry pulled ahead with a 16-7 run, featuring baskets by Stremlow and Drake Downs, to take a 59-50 lead with 12 minutes remaining. 

• The Saints struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 31.3% in the second half, which hindered their ability to close the gap. 

• Hughes scored 13 points in the second half, including a deep three to cut the deficit to 71-65 with four minutes left, but Newberry's defense held firm. 

• Newberry's bench continued to dominate, contributing 22 second-half points, while Limestone's reserves were limited to just 4. 

• Free throws by Robinson and Lovorn in the final two minutes sealed the game for Newberry, who shot 68.4% from the line in the second half. 

Up Next: Limestone will aim to bounce back on the road against Lenoir-Rhyne on Wednesday, January 22nd, at 7:30 p.m.