Flames never trail in win over AUM

CLEVELAND, Tenn. –Noah Boler-Kyle scored the first four points of the game for the Lee University men’s basketball team on Thursday evening and the Flames never looked back. Lee led wire-to-wire over the visiting Auburn University Montgomery Warhawks and got the 83-69 win to improve their record to 8-8 overall and 4-8 in Gulf South Conference action. AUM fell to 8-9 overall and 5-7 in conference play.

Boler-Kyle led the Flames in multiple categories in the win. He had 18 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, and three blocks. He was 7-for-8 from the field in 31 minutes of action. Zach Gray added 17 points, Tariq Daughton had 15 and Tylon Chatman had 12 points in the win.

Noah Boler-Kyle led the Flames to a win over the Auburn University Montgomery Warhawks. (Photo/Lee Flames")

Lee jumped out to an early 7-2 in the first four minutes of the contest. Later in the first half, Lee used a 7-0 run to go up 19-8 and force a timeout from AUM.

After the timeout, Lee continued the run and jumped all the way to a 24-8 lead. The Warhawks ended the five-minute scoring drought with a three-point shot. However, AUM could not get any closer and Lee led 43-28 at the halftime break.

AUM came out in the second half attack the painted area. They got to the free throw lines multiple times and started to chip away at the lead. Behind the play of Malachi Rhodes, AUM made it a 47-38 game before Boler-Kyle took over. He had two buckets and two assists to help the Flames go back up by 16 points.

The Flames continued to share the basketball and extend the lead. Lee had 17 assists in the win as they had as large as a 21-point lead. AUM hit a couple of late three-point shots to make it a little closer.

The Flames held the Warhawks to just 33% shooting in the contest while also scoring 38 points in the paint.

Coach Bubba Smith’s Thoughts:

“Our guys are really sharing the ball and playing connected right now. A lot of it starts in the defensive end. The last five games we have held teams to shooting in the 30% range. Anytime you do that you give yourself a chance to win even if the offense isn’t always perfect. Still need to find a way to rebound the ball better and continue to improve that way. We are going in the right direction but still have a ways to go.”