Like the pun says, the Lenoir-Rhyne University men tripped over the foul line.
The Bears made only 14-of-25 free throws (56 percent) and lost to Anderson (S.C.) University 75-72 Wednesday night.
LRU (4-8 overall) is 0-3 in the South Atlantic Conference for the first time since 1996.
“It all comes down to, if we make some free throws we win the game,” John Lentz, the Bears’ head coach, said. “I’m not asking 25-for-25, but if we go 18-for-25 we win.”
Instead, Anderson (8-3, 3-0 SAC) remained tied with Lincoln Memorial for the conference lead.
The Trojans were led by 6-foot-7, 230-pound Taylor Shugart, who made 10-of-13 field goal attempts and scored 23 points, 15 in the second half.
Shugart, who entered Wednesday’s game with a 7.8-point average, had shot 11-for-14 and had 24 points in Anderson’s 69-61 win at LRU last season.
LRU’s Hunter McClintock, a transfer from Oral Roberts University, had 21 points, the most he has scored in his nine games with the Bears. McClintock made 5-of-5 3-point shots in the second half and has hit 17-of-28 3-point attempts (61 percent) this season.
“He can shoot it,” Lentz said. “He doesn’t need time to get it off, either.”
McClintock scored LRU’s first 11 points of the second half and made the Bears’ first five second-half field goals, all 3-pointers.
However, Anderson led 47-34 before McClintock launched his 5-for-5 streak.
The Trojans, who never trailed, jumped ahead 8-0 before D.J. Blackmon, playing his first home game since suffering a knee injury 13 ½ months ago, made his first shot of the night, with 15:55 remaining in the first half.
Anderson held its largest lead, 27-11, after a breakaway layup by Jo’el Lamb with 6:42 left in the half.
The Trojans were in front 71-60 before the Bears’ A.J. McKenzie, who scored all nine of his points in the final 4 ½ minutes, hit a 3-pointer with 3:38 to play.
With Anderson leading 73-70, the Trojans’ Tyrell McDowell missed a free throw with 17.8 seconds remaining and McClintock rebounded. After the Bears called a timeout with 13 seconds left, McKenzie drove for two points with seven seconds to go.
“We didn’t run the inbounds play right,” Lentz said. “We needed points, one way or another. We couldn’t wait.”
Anderson’s Denzail Jones made two foul shots with 5.6 seconds to play and Blackmon missed a straightaway 3-point attempt that would have tied the game at the buzzer.
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