GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – The Lee University men's tennis team lost 5-2 to Tusculum University Wednesday afternoon at the Nichols Tennis Complex.

The Flames (1-1) won two of the three doubles matches to take a 1-0 lead into singles competition. Antonio Pons and Bruno Medeiros beat Leon Huck and Nemanja Subanovic 6-4 at No. 1 doubles. Dmitry Bezborodov and Frank Bonacia held off Jesus Garcia and Cristian Pons to leave the No. 3 doubles match to decide the doubles point. Jordi Dasi and Daniel Prata posted a 7-5 tie-breaker score to claim the point for Lee by a 7-6 margin.

Tusculum (1-0) evened the team score at 1-1 following Huck's 4-6, 6-0, 6-4 win over Nico Ramirez. Bonacia gave the Pioneers the lead with a three-set 7-5, 5-7, 7-5 defeat of Antonio Pons. Bezborodov pulled Tusculum to within one of securing the win with another three-set win at No. 1 singles. All three sets went to a tiebreaker.

Subanovic won the first and third sets against Cristian Pons to clinch the team win for Tusculum. Dasi ended the Tusculum hopes of sweeping the singles matches with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Marco Meon. Vadzim Raitsou supplied the final margin with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Prata.

"Tough loss, but great learning experience," said Lee head coach Patric Hynes. "Full credit to Tusculum, they came up with the big wins in singles today. I thought we did everything right in doubles and I can't fault this team's pluck. We just have to be a little better in moments, but I'd rather learn these lessons now, than later in the season. We will come back stronger from this one, even though it stings."

The Flames are scheduled to enter conference play on February 18 against Shorter University. The GSC battle is set for 2 p.m. at the DeVos Tennis Center.