Flames fall to Falcons in defensive battle

CLEVELAND, Tenn. – In a defensive showdown, it was two late jumpers from the University of Montevallo that led them past Lee University 58-50 on Saturday afternoon. It was a game where neither team led by more than eight points and featured eight ties and eight lead changes. Both teams zone defenses dominated the day as only 110 shots were taken between the two teams.

Both teams used short runs early in the first half with neither team gaining much of an advantage. UM was up 13-8 and then the Flames answered and went up 23-18. The Falcons answered right back and Lee led at the 28-27

Tariq Daughton scored 15 points against the Flacons. (Photo/Lee Flames)

The Falcons hit a couple of early three-point shots in the second half and got up to a 44-38 lead before the Flames answered. Lee had a 10-3 run to go back up 48-47. However, Brandon Fussell hit a big three for UM and Derek Moore hit a fade away jump shot. He bucket came as the shot clock expired with just under 90 seconds to go in the game. His shot made it 54-48. The Falcons made four free throws in the last 30 seconds to earn the win.

The Flames held the Falcons to just 37% shooting in the contest but could only manage to shoot 42% as well. Lee was 7-for-27 from the three-point arc and 5-for-6 from the foul line.

Only one player for the Flames scored in double digits with Tariq Daughton scoring 15. UM had Brandon Fussell with 18 and Jaylen Curry with 14. For Lee, Noah Boler-Kyle had 10 rebounds and three blocks in the loss.

The Flames will hit the road for two games in Alabama next week. On Thursday, January 30 they will take on the University of Alabama in Huntsville in Huntsville at 8:30 PM.

Coach Bubba Smith’s Thoughts:

“We had some costly turnovers at points today and struggled to get in a rhythm at points. We couldn’t get into the interior of the zone defense. Our defense gave us a chance to get a win, but couldn’t quite get it done. We couldn’t ever make a counter run to their runs in the second half. We will learn from this. We are competing but just have to find a way to finish.”