CARROLLTON, Georgia – The Lee University men's basketball team battled back from a 21-point deficit midway of the first half but could never quite get over the hump in a 106-101 loss to Miles College (Atlanta) on Saturday afternoon in the West Georgia Classic.
The Flames opened the 2015-16 season by trailing the Bears 66-54 at the end of the first half. "I don't think I've ever had a team give up 66 points in a half," stated a frustrated Lee head coach Tommy Brown after the contest. "We were pitiful at times and I was really disappointed with some of our players returning from last season."
The Bears blistered the Flames by shooting 77 percent from 3-point range (10-of-23) in the first 20 minutes. The Flames did a better job of closing out on the 3-point shooters in the second half, but Miles started going inside and either converted from the field or went to the free-throw line.
For the game, the Atlanta squad shot 51 percent from the field, 67 percent (12-of-18) from behind the arc and made 24-of-39 free throws.
The Flames didn't shoot that poorly and came firing back to cut the Bear lead to only two points late in the contest. "Each time they came up with a big bucket, or we were called for a foul," noted coach Brown. All totaled Lee was whistled for 26 fouls and Miles was called for 29 violations.
Five Flames hit double figures in the loss. CJ Reese earned the game's high-scoring honors with 27 points. He was 10-of-15 from the field and 7-of-8 from the charity stripe. Keevin Tyus followed with 18 points, five rebounds and three assists. Elgrin Wilson followed closely with 17 markers, while Chase Cullen tallied 14 and Jervon Johnson nailed his long-range 3-point shots and totaled 12 points.
Lee shot 56 percent from the field, good enough to win most games. They also made 7-of-14 3-point attempts and went to the line 37 times and converted 28. Brown pointed out that will win most contests if your team plays solid defense.
The Bears countered with six players in double digits. Maiscei Grier was sizzling hot most of the afternoon and finished with 24 points. Willie Gray opened the afternoon with four straight 3-pointers and tallied 17 points. Gerald Maddox and Kyle Doyle countered with 14 apiece.
Brown admitted it hurt having his big man Rantavious Gilbert in foul trouble much of the game. "We couldn't keep him in the contest," the coach admitted. Gilbert did manage to pull down seven rebounds and block four shots while scoring his two points.
Lee will have very little time to rest. The Flames will search for their first win of the year on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. when they face another team from the SIAC in Lane College (Jackson, Tenn.).
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