Box Score
Lee University men's basketball extended its home win streak to 23 games with a 72-59 upset of No. 25 Valdosta State University Thursday evening in Paul Dana Walker Arena. The Flames improved to 6-2 overall and moved to 2-0 in the Gulf South Conference (GSC).
Lee carried a three-point margin in the halftime break and converted 14-of-15 free throw attempts in the second half, including 10 consecutive in the final 3 ½ minutes, to extend the lead from five to the final margin of 13.
Corey Billingsley made good on 10-of-11 trips to the foul line on his way to scoring a game-high 20 points. The junior guard added eight rebounds and four assists to the cause. "I challenged Corey and the rest of the team about rebounding after the West Florida game on Monday ," said coach Tommy Brown. "We got a solid effort out of a lot of players tonight and that is what it takes to beat a team as good as Valdosta."
Stedmon Ford hit 5-of-8 three-point field goal attempts to end the night with 15 points to go with four rebounds. Four of his treys came in the first half. 'He just has a special way of making some big shots," noted Brown.
Brice Sharp was 5-for-6 at the line and posted nine points and six rebounds. Jamal Worthington and Tyquan Roberts both added eight markers. Chad Lee, Jay Marquette and Valentino Thomas rounded out the scoring with four points each. Chad Lee also had seven boards. "Jamal played tonight like he's been playing in practice. He has outstanding athletic ability and it is starting to show," Brown said.
The Lee coach went on to praise the effort of Brice Sharp on both ends of the floor. "Brice had waited a long time for this opportunity and to play with a healthy body. You will not find a better person and harder worker than Brice."
Valdosta State (7-1, 1-1 GSC) entered the night as the Gulf South Conference's last unbeaten team and riding a seven-game win streak.
Jeremy McKay was the top-scorer for the Blazers with 17 points. Jarod Leonard gave Valdosta State two double-digit scorers with 11 points of his own. Leonard shared the team lead of six rebounds with Jalen Crawford.
A couple nights removed from being outrebounded by 18 against West Florida, the Flames hit the boards and to pull down 49 rebounds to Valdosta State's 33.
Lee held the Blazers well under their season average of 88.6 points per game and Valdosta State's field percentage of 31.3 percent was the team's lowest of the year. "We pushed the ball up the floor when we got rebounds and showed good patience when we needed to. I'm kind of speakless. We beat an awfully good team. Now we'll have to see how this young team reacts on the road in this conference."
The Flames will take a little time off for the holidays before getting back to the grind. Lee hits the court again on January 4 with a trip to Florence, Ala., to face the University of North Alabama followed by a January 6 date with Union University in Jackson, Tenn.
