CLEVELAND, Tenn. -The University of West of West Florida scored the first six points of the game and never looked back as they defeated the Lee University men's basketball team 84-71 on Saturday afternoon. After being up one at halftime, the Argos outscored the Flames 52-40 in the second half to earn the win. Lee fell to 9-12 overall and 5-12 in Gulf South Conference action, while UWF improved to 6-16 and 5-11.
Poor shooting hurt the Flames early in the game. Lee started the game going just 2-for-14 from the floor. Most of the early points for the Flames came from the free throw line. UWF jumped out to a 16-6 lead before the Flames went on their own run. Lee had a 8-0 run that was capped off by a Tim Vaughn three-point shot. The long-range bucket was the first of the game for the Flames and it came with 7:55 left in the half.
Lee kept chipping away at the lead and eventually tied it at 29. UWF had an answer and after another tie, the Argos led 32-31 at the halftime break.
The early part of the second half was all Argos. They found their way to the free throw line and hit some big shots and they pushed the one point lead out to 13 at 52-39. The Flames tried to respond, but UWF kept making shots and eventually pushed it all the way out to a 72-47 lead. The Flames didn't go away as they responded with their own 14-1 run, but it was too little to late as UWF won 84-71.
UWF did most of their damage at the free throw line as they were 34-for-49 in the win from the charity stripe. Lee was 18-of-24 from the free throw spot. Lee made the exact same amount of field goals as UWF did with 23.
Jamarcus Wilkins led the Flames with 14 points and seven rebounds while Tylon Chatman had 13. Ben Ritger added a career high 11 points.
The Flames out rebounded the Argos 42-30 but committed six more turnovers in the loss.
The Flames will return to action next Saturday for the start of a three-game road trip. They will take on Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville at 5 PM on February 15.
Coach Bubba Smith's Thoughts:
"The better and tougher team won today. We didn't look inspired at times. They were more physical and executed better. We allowed them to get to the free throw line too many times. We didn't adjust and adapt. We can learn lessons from this but are running out of time on this season."
