WINONA LAKE, Ind. – The Lee men's basketball team has lived to play another day in the NCCAA National Championship. The No. 1 seeded Flames turned back a determined Crowley's Ridge (Ark.) to advance to Thursday's semi-final play against Colorado Christian at 3:30 p.m.
The Flames overcame all types of free-throw shooting difficulties in the second half but still managed to hold on and post the 63-61 victory. After making 7-of-8 charity tosses in the first half, the Flames could convert only 11-of-25 attempts in the final 20 minutes. Crowley's Ridge led 34-31 at the halftime break.
The see-saw battle finally found Lee able to pull away by 11 points with 6:49 remaining but led by the outstanding Quin Cooper, the Arkansas club came fighting back and had one final attempt to tie or win the game but Cory Billingsley stepped up to make a big stop on Cooper and Chase Cullen came away with the steal to secure the rugged victory.
"Give Crowley's Ridge credit," said coach Tommy Brown after watching his Flames post their 18th win of the year against 12 losses. It also marked the seventh consecutive win by the surging Flames. "We had the surge to pull away by 11 but then couldn't make the free throws. That happens in national tournament play, especially with seniors. They want to win so badly and certainly don't want it to be their final game."
Crowley's Ridge dropped to 24-7 on the year but will play again in the consolation rounds beginning on Thursday morning. "Thank goodness we are not playing again at 8:30 in the morning," said Brown with a smile. "I know that was on the mind of entire team the entire game."
Chase Cullen paced the Lee scoring and rebounding attack with 19 points and 16 rebounds. Stephan Burrows tallied a season high 15 points, all coming in the first half. Cory Billingsley rounded out Lee's scoring with 11.
The Flames did not shoot the basketball well, 33 percent from the field and 23 percent from 3-point range. The glaring stat was converting just 18-of-33 freebies. Lee won the rebounding battle in commanding style, 47-35. Chad Lee and Jervon Johnson followed Cullen in the battle of the boards with seven rebounds apiece.
Cooper tried to carry the Pioneers back almost single handedly. He totaled 23 points. Tim Shepard chipped in with 13 and Ryan Kleffer had nine points.
The losers shot 34 percent from the field for the game. They started out blistering hot from 3-point range but leveled off and made just 7-of-21 the rest of the way. The Pioneers were 12-of-15 from the charity stripe. Lee's defense forced 17 turnovers and committed 14 floor mistakes.
