SE Tennessee News

The Lee University men's basketball team fought hard with the University of West Alabama on Thursday evening but couldn't overcome the Tigers and fell for the first time at home this season by a final score of 74-63. In a game where there were ten lead changes, UWA made their free throws and pulled away for a win in the end.
 
UWA jumped out strong making three of their first four shots of the contest. Lee missed several shots but offensive rebounds kept them in it at 12-8. Lee had a couple of scoreless droughts which allowed UWA to pull ahead 19-10 before PJay Smith hit a jumper to stop the bleeding.
 
Neither team was able to get any offense going but then Beyuan Hendricks and Makhi McGuire hit back-to-back three point shots and cut it to a 19-18 game and forced a timeout from West Alabama. The Tigers responded and made a couple of shots and made it a 26-21 lead with six minutes left in the half. The two teams battled it out for the last three minutes of the period and the Flames trailed 31-28 at the halftime break.
 
Jayce Willingham came out firing in the second half. He hit two jumpers and then Michael McGuirk hit a bucket and was fouled. He converted the free throw and Lee had the lead for the first time in the game at 38-35. After that, the Flames went on a cold streak and couldn't score. UWA took the opportunity and retook the lead at 39-38. Smith then had an answer for the Flames. He hit back-to-back three pointers and gave Lee their largest lead of the game at 46-42.
 
The Tigers came back with a 5-0 run over the next two minutes to take a 47-46 lead. Hendricks then ended the run with a three point shot. The two teams traded buckets over the next several minutes before to fast break buckets from Justin Allison for UWA gave the Tigers a 59-56 lead with 4:22 left in the contest.
 
With 3:09 to go in the game, Willingham was called for an intentional foul. Allison made both free throws and pushed the lead to 63-58. On the next possession, Kuran Garner was fouled shooting a three. He made all three and made it 66-58. The Flames couldn't get any closer and UWA made wight free throws in the last 90 seconds and held on for the 74-63 loss.
 
Head Coach Bubba Smith was disappointed in the loss. "UWA was the tougher team tonight. You see that from outscoring us in the paint and from the free throw line. They were the better team than us tonight. We can't have eight assists and 14 turnovers and can't expect to win. We had too many silly fouls and bailed them out at points. We've got to regroup and put this one behind us and refocus and get ready for Saturday."
 
The Tigers were 24-for-28 from the free throw line in the win while Lee was only 8-for-14. UWA also outscored the Flames in the paint 38-28. Smith led the way for Lee with 18 points while Willingham had 15. 

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