MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Lee University men's basketball team used a very strong first half to pull away and defeat Christian Brothers 72-56 on Thursday evening. The Flames held CBU for a six minute stretch in the first half on their way to their eighth straight win.  PJay Smith led the way with 20 points for the Flames. It is the eighth straight game for Smith to score in double figures. The win gave Head Coach Bubba Smith his 300^th career win.
 
The two teams traded buckets early before Beyuan Hendricks took over scoring seven points and putting the Flames on a 9-0 run to push the lead to 12-5 and forced a timeout from CBU. After the timeout, both team went cold from the floor with both teams scoring four points in over four minutes of action.
 
Lee finally got a couple of shots to fall with another three from Hendricks and a layup and a free throw from Josh Lowe. The lead extended to 20-11 and forced another timeout from CBU .Lee continued to pull away when PJay Smith dribbled behind the back, crossed over a defender, and hit a three to make it 27-14 and forced a third timeout from CBU.
 
Lee continued to click on the defensive end holding CBU scoreless for over six minutes and extended the lead out to 20 points at 34-14. The Bucs didn't back down and hit a couple of late three point shots to make it 34-20 at the halftime break. Lee did not allow CBU to attempt a free throw in the first half.
 
The Flames did not take their foot off the gas to start the second period of action, outscoring CBU and pushing the lead out to 22 points at 46-26. CBU didn't go away though and slowly crept back into the contest pushing the deficit back to 16 points at 51-37. Then the two teams traded buckets as CBU continued to cut the deficit down. The Bucs hit a three and made it a 55-42 game but Smith answered with his own three to push It back out to 58-42. CBU continued to step up their defensive pressure and went on a 7-0 run to cut it to 58-49.
 
Lee regrouped and ended the game with a 14-7 run to win 72-56. The Flames shot 54% in the win with Smith adding 20 points, Jayce Willingham had 18 and Hendricks had 17. Lee shot 15 free throws and allowed CBU to only shoot seven.
 
Head Coach Bubba Smith was pleased with the first half effort. "We knew CBU wouldn't quit and would have a run in the second half. We found a way to answer their runs. Weve had several games where we had to be aggressive in the second half and we wanted to change that and be more aggressive in the first half and it showed tonight. PKay and Beyaun continued to work really well in the backcourt. It was a very physical game and now we have to rest up and get ready to take on Union on Saturday."
 
Lee will continue the road trip in West Tennessee and head to Jackson, Tenn. and will take on the Union University Bulldogs at 5 PM on Saturday, January 7.