DAHLONEGA, Georgia – Michael McGuirk canned five triples and scored 26 points as the No. 24 Lee men's basketball team improved to 2-1 on the young season on Friday knocking off Georgia Southwestern, 87-82 on the opening night of the Ross Morkem Memorial, hosted by the University of North Georgia.
The Flames led by 10 at the half thanks to a 20-10 run over the last 6:40. Lee extended the lead all the way to 15 early in the second half after a 3-ball by McGuirk. Georgia Southwestern fight back and cut the lead down two on a couple of occasions as Brady Rankin hit a jumper with 3:27 left and then cut it down to 80-78 on a layup with 1:42 remaining. Rankin finished with 20 points and it 5 of 8 from the 3-point line.
The Flames salted the game away at the foul line on free throws by Jayce Willingham and Quay Kennedy to secure the hard-fought neutral site victory. Beyuan Hendricks tallied 21 points and four assists. Willingham added 16 points and nine boards and Kennedy registered 15 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.
"That wasn't the prettiest, but that's a good win against a team we faced in the NCAA tournament last season. We had some stretches tonight where we strung together some really good offensive and defensive possessions, but we still have to find ways to be more consistent on both sides of the ball," said Lee head coach Bubba Smith. "I thought the end of the half was key and Jason played a huge part in that stretch. He brought a veterans approach to our team and helped us get
the ball moving and it opened a lot of easier plays for our guards." Landman dished off a pair of assists and grabbed a rebound as the Flames extended their lead at the end of the half.
After struggling shooting the ball in a two-game split last weekend the Flames were much more efficient from the field in tonight's contest. Lee hit 52 percent (26 of 50) from the field and a red-hot 50 percent (11 of 22) from beyond the arc. The Flames would also capitalize on 27 free throws, hitting 24 (89 percent).
"We have to be better down the stretch though. We weren't great with our ball security and staying attached to shooters, but we stepped up and closed it out at the FT line," concluded Smith.
Dontevius Tatum led the Hurricanes with 21 points. Kevin Kone added 18 points and five boards. Georgia Southwestern also shot the ball lights out hitting 13 of 27 from 3-point range and were 19 of 31 (61 percent) from the field in the second half.
Lee held a 33-25 edge on the boards but struggled to take of the basketball committing 23 floor mistakes.
Friday's contest was a rematch of last year's NCAA National Tournament First Round game. The Flames earned the program's first NCAA Tourney victory with a 72-69 win on Mar. 13.
Lee will wrap up the weekend trip with a Saturday evening matchup against the host, the North Georgia Nighthawks. The opening tip is set for 6 p.m. Georgia Southwestern (0-2) will take on Union in the early game at 4 p.m.
