CLEVELAND, Tenn. –A strong team defensive effort led the Lee University men's basketball past Mississippi College 75-47 on Thursday evening to clinch a berth in the upcoming Gulf South Conference tournament. The Flames held MC to 21 points in the first half and 26 points in the second half. With the win, the Flames moved to 18-5 on the season and 15-5 in GSC play. It also was their ninth straight victory to remain in second place in the GSC just two games behind first place University of West Georgia.
Once again, the Flames came out of the gates slowly taking over three minutes to score their first field goal. However, after that, Lee took control. MC led 3-2 and after a Beyuan Hendricks jumper, never led again.
The Flames used an 8-0 run to go ahead 14-5 and start to pull away. MC had three different scoring droughts of over three minutes in the first half as they shot 8-for-26 in the first half including 1-for-7 from long range. The Flames led 39-21 at the halftime intermission.
The second half was more of the same as Lee forced the Choctaws into several long scoring droughts and continued to pull away. The Flames led by as many as 33 points in the contest before winning by 28.
11 different players scored for Lee as they shot 49% in the contest (28-for-57). JJ Barnes led the team with 16 points. He also had six rebounds, and six assists. Willie Walton had 13 points while Jamarcus Wilkins, Hendricks, and Noah Boler-Kyle had nine points. The Flames also outrebounded MC 43-27 and had 42 points in the paint to the Choctaws 20.
For MC, it was there second lowest scoring total of the season after scoring only 40 in a loss to the University of West Alabama. Lee has now held 6 teams under 55 points this season.
Lee will stay in the friendly confines of Walker Arena on Saturday, February 17. The Flames will take on Delta State for senior day at 2 PM.
Coach Bubba Smith's Thoughts:
"Really proud of the defensive effort as a group. They did a great job on Rashad Bolden. He is a tough assignment. They threw some different things at us defensively and JJ and Beyaun were able to adjust very well."
"It was very complimentary basketball tonight. They are finding their teammates and sharing it well. That all comes from defensive efforts and taking assignments personally."
"Our seniors are having the urgency right now and that is what you want to see."
