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Some say the season truly begins once you get into conference play and for the Lee Flames that sets up a big matchup Thursday night as they host a familiar foe in Auburn Montgomery at 8 p.m.

The Flames moved to 4-1 on the young season as they split two road contests last week. Lee topped Tusculum for the second time this season, 90-78 on Tuesday led by 17 points from Levi Woods and 16 from Chase Cullen before suffering its first loss of the year on Saturday in a 79-56 defeat to Carson-Newman.

The Warhawks enter with an even 3-3 mark. Last time out they suffered 91-77 defeat to West Alabama. The game was part of the Embry-Riddle Tournament and did not count in the GSC standings. AUM opened play in Daytona Beach, Fla. with a 101-92 shootout victory over the host Eagles.

Balanced Scoring Keys Lee Quick Start
Ryan Montgomery leads the Flames with 10.3 points per game but Coach Smith is getting production from several players all throughout the lineup. Woods scored 23 points in the two games last week and is averaging nine points and seven rebounds per game.

All totaled eight different players are averaging six or more points a game this season.

The Flames have dug in on the defensive end so far this season as they are third in the GSC yielding just 65.3 points per game to their opponents.

Coach Bubba Smith's club is receiving votes in the latest NCAA South Region Poll. 

Notes On The Warhawks
Junior Desmond DeRamus is leading the offensive charge for the AUM averaging 15.8 points per game. Lafayette James-Core follows with 12.8 while Michael Bryant averages 10.2 a contest.  

James-Core exploded for 27 points on 7 of 9 shooting from beyond the arc in Saturday's loss to West Alabama. Freshman Forward Antoine Pitts scored a career-high 12 points in 20 minutes of action while sophomore guard Darrion Taylor added 12 points of his own.

Michael Cheaney is entering his fourth season at the helm of the Auburn Montgomery men's basketball program.  Cheaney has compiled a 39-46 mark for the Warhawks as he guides them through the transition process from NAIA to NCAA D2.

Up Next
Following the clash with AUM the Flames will entertain West Georgia on Saturday at 4 p.m. before hosting Freed-Hardeman in a non-conference contest on Tuesday at 8 p.m.