JACKSON, Tenn. – Host Union University held Lee University to 30 points in each half in claiming a 73-60 GSC victory over the visiting Flames on Thursday evening inside the Fred DeLay Gymnasium. The win improved the Bulldogs to 5-5 in conference play and 9-7 overall. The loss ended a two-game winning streak for Lee and they dropped to 2-8, 6-8.
The Bulldogs were led by the veteran play of Parker Applegate. He tallied 11 points but more importantly pulled down 16 rebounds as Union outrebounded the Flames 45-32. Kaleim Taylor paced Union in scoring with 14 points. CJ Jackson had 12 points while Deyaki Garr joined Applegate with 11 points.
Willie Walton was the only Lee player to score in double figures (12 points). He made 5-of-10 shots from the field and hit one 3-pointer. Walton also paced Lee rebounders with seven. Tylon Chatman had nine points and Noah Boler-Kyle joined Ben Ritger with eight points. Boler-Kyle had six rebounds and Tim Vaughn collected five.
The Bulldogs shot 39% from the field (24-of-61) but hit 10-of-20 triples (50%). They were awarded 21 free throws and made 15. The Flames hit 38% overall (23-of-60) but found the going tough from long range tallying just 4-of-23 triples (17%). Free throws were hard to come by. They went to the line only 12 times and made 10.
The contest was played fairly clean with Lee committing 10 turnovers and the Bulldogs nine. Union collected 11 assists and Lee seven. The Bulldogs had 17 second-chance points and Lee 12 and the Flames outscored the host club 29-25 in points off the bench.
Lee will seek to get back into the victory column on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Memphis and face another challenge in Christian Brothers in a contest slated for a 4:00 start.
Coach Bubba Smith's Thoughts:
"I thought we played just as hard tonight as against Delta State the other day. Rebounding hurt us tonight. We held them to 39% from the field but they had too many second chance opportunities. We also didn't convert on the open three's today. We will have to rebound on Saturday."
