MARIETTA, Ga. – Will Barnes scored a season-high 33 points to lead the No. 2 Lee University Flames basketball team to a 82-73 defeat of SSAC foe Southern Polytechnic State University. With the Saturday afternoon victory, Lee maintains a one game lead in the win column over Emmanuel College.
Barnes made 10-of-15 shots from the field and 11-of-13 free throws in the game. He added seven rebounds, an assist and a steal in 33 minutes of playing time.
Lee (19-1, 10-1 SSAC) held a 34-27 lead at the half and extended it to 20 with 11:34 remaining in the game. The Hornets (10-11, 2-9 SSAC) chipped away and pulled within seven with four minutes on the clock.
“When we think it’s over, we think we can outscore people and we just forget to defend,” said Lee head coach Tommy Brown. “We don’t have any sense of urgency then.”
Steve Bennett was 7-for-10 to finish with 14 points and eight rebounds. Bennett added a steal and a blocked shot, while battling foul trouble.
“We need Steve to be in the game for his offense and rebounding, so we’re going to have to come up with a zone scheme to extend his time on the floor,” said Brown.
Jamorris Gaines and Corey Billingsley were the only other Flames to hit double-digits in scoring. Gaines made 8-of-10 charity tosses on his way to 12 points and six rebounds. Billingsley tossed in 11 points.
Patrick Shaughnessy and Duran Blue crashed the boards for six rebounds each, while Chad Lee pulled down five boards.
Southern Poly was led by De’Andre Blackmon’s 19 points and 10 rebounds. Chase Robinson hit 3-of-5 three-point attempts and was 4-for-4 at the free throw line for 13 points.
CJ McElrath and Cortez Irby each tallied 11 markers in the loss. Irby also contribute eight rebounds and five steals.
Lee hits the court again on Tuesday with a trip to Henderson, Tenn., to battle Freed-Hardeman University. The non-conference matchup is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. tip.
“Freed-Hardeman isn’t as talented as they were when they played at our place, but it is still a difficult place to play,” said Brown. “(Kyle) Teichmann hasn’t played since he was injured in our game and they have several other players that will be unable to play.”
