Coach Tommy Brown has likely told his Flames several times this week that Virginia Intermont will be trying to play the role of spoiler again tonight when the Cobras enter Walker Arena. VI only holds two wins in nine meetings with Lee men's basketball teams, but those two victories came during the past two meetings.
Last December Lee journeyed up to Young Harris College to take part in the United Community College Christmas Tournament. The Cobras stunned the Flames, 87-84. In Brown's second season as Lee's coach (2006-07), Virginia Intermont came to Cleveland for the Holiday Inn Classic and left town with a 62-60 victory.
The Flames enter tonight's contest with a perfect 3-0 record. Brown's club has zipped past rivals Tennessee Wesleyan, Tennessee Temple and Bryan College. On the other hand the Cobras are 0-3, having lost to King College, Virginia-Wise and Bethel University. However, the lost to Wise came on the road and by a two-point margin. It was much the same at Bethel, only a five-point defeat.
Brown will do his best to try and keep his club focused on the visitors from Bristol, Va. Assistant coach David Vespie was quick to point out before the Bryan game that the Flames could not be looking past any opponent. But the staff and team is very much aware that Freed-Hardeman is the Thursday night foe. The Lions are ranked 12th in the NAIA preseason poll and Lee 15th.
Coach Chris Tolliver is in his first season as head coach at Virginia Intermont. He served as a Cobra assistant last year. Brown is in the midst of his ninth campaign at Lee.
Seniors Will Barnes and Chase Dunn are leading a Lee scoring attack that is averaging over 83 ppg. Barnes is shooting a solid 54 percent overall and 47 percent from behind the 3-point line. He's averaging 19.7 ppg. Dunn's marksmanship is also way above average, 50 percent overall and 47 percent on his trey attempts. He's been deadly at the free throw line, 13-of-14. Dunn stands at 17.7 ppg.
As a team Lee knocks down 46 percent overall and 39 percent of its 3-point attempts. Senior Duran Blue is averaging 12 markers per outing and six assists. Sophomore Chad Lee is the team's leading rebounder, grabbing 22 and averaging 7.3 boards per game. He's also scoring at an 8.7 clip. Overall the Flames average 43 rebounds per game and opponents pull down an average of 37.
Tonight game will be aired on the Buzz (101.3 FM) and streamed around the world by going to GameCentral on the basketball site. Thursday's Freed game will return to Mix 104.1.
