MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Men's Basketball)—Denzel Dillingham proved to be the King of the Jungle tonight as he rattled off 34 points in Paine College's 79-73 win over LeMoyne-Owen College on Saturday night.

In the first half of the game, the Lions and Magicians would trade points and tied the score three times before LeMoyne-Owen gained control of the game. The Magicians scoring barrage began when Timothy Ware scored a layup with 14:43 left in the first half. The Lions answered back with a scoring streak of their own led by Dillingham. The first of his baskets came at 13:52 in the first half when he kissed the ball off the glass for two, 15-11 in favor of the Magicians. The first half ended with LeMoyne-Owen's Antoine Williams nailing a three with :52 left in the half, 41-39.
The Magicians came out blazing in the second half and scored five unanswered points and leading the Lions by seven points, 46-39. Dillingham answered back for Paine with a three pointer with 16:24 left in the second half, 46-41. Don Quarles, Jr. followed Dillingham's lead with a fast break layup at the 15:54 mark in the second half, 46-43. With 13:29 left in the game, Arnis Libazs pulled the Lions within one point when he made a layup, 48-47.

LeMoyne-Owen answered back when Jerry Hampton scored a layup with 12:50 left in the second half. At the 6:28 mark in the second half, the Magicians lead grew to 10 points. The Lions began to chip away at the deficit when Dillingham scored jumper with 6:21 left in the game, 64-56. Patrick Petty ended the game for Paine when he went to the free throw line to make the score, 79-73.

The score tied four times and the lead changed seven times in the Lions win.
Dillingham led Paine with a game-high 34 points and four steals for the night. Alfonso Davis was second leading scorer with 17 points. Dillingham and Libazs tied for most rebounds with seven. Quarles, Jr. and Dillingham led the Lions in assists with three. Libazs and Davis led Paine with two blocks.

As a team, the Lions finished the game with 35 rebounds, 12 steals, 11 assists and four blocks. Paine scored 27 points off of turnovers and 10 fast break points. The Lions bench scored 17 points for the night. The team was 42.2 percent from the field, 37 percent from the arc, and 60 percent from the free throw line.

Hampton and Dequan Mitchell led the Magicians with 19 points. Hampton also led LeMoyne-Owen in rebounds with eight, and blocks with three. Timothy Ware finished the night with a team high five assists and three steals.

As a team, the Magicians finished the game with 36 rebounds, 13 assists, five blocks, and six steals. LeMoyne-Owen was 45.9 percent from the field, 40 percent from the arc, and 78.6 percent from the free throw line. The Magician bench combined for 23 points.  The team scored 30 points in the paint and 13 points off of turnovers.

With the win, the Lion move to 8-3 overall and 4-0 in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. LeMoyne-Owen drops to 6-6 overall and 3-1 in conference play.

For complete coverage of Paine College Lions basketball, please follow @PaineAthletics on Twitter and Paine Athletics on Facebook. You can also find up-to-date information on all things Paine Athletics at www.paineathletics.com.