Flames Take #4 UAH down to the wire

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. –A game tying attempt by Zach Gray as time expired, fell just off the rim as the Lee University men’s basketball team fell to the #4 team in the country 71-68 on Thursday evening. The University of Alabama in Huntsville won their 19th straight game to go to 18-1 on the year while the Flames fell to 8-10 overall and 4-10 in Gulf South Conference. 

The Flames held the Chargers to their lowest score of the season. The previous low was 74 against the University of Missouri-Saint Louis. It was also the closest margin for a win at home for UAH. The previous mark was a 20-point win over Delta State University.

Brent Bowman (center, in previous game) led the Flames with 17 points during their down to the wire loss to UAH.

Lee was 9-for-23 from long range and outshot UAH who was 8-for-28. The difference in the contest was free throws. UAH was 13-of-19 from the charity stripe. Lee did not shoot a free throw until there was 6:45 left in the contest. Willie Walton was the only Flame to shoot free throws, and he was 5-of-5.

It was back and forth contest early on as both teams made some early three-point shots. Noah Boler-Kyle, Tylon Chatman, and Jamarcus Wilkins all hit long range buckets as Lee had an early 15-12 advantage.

However, the Chargers took advantage of Lee fouls. UAH made it to the free throw line eight times and made six of them while Lee did not attempt a free throw in the first half. Boler-Kyle had an impact on the floor while he was out there with seven points, but he earned two free throws, so he only managed to see the court for eight minutes. Flames kept it close, but the Chargers led 35-27 at the break.

UAH continued the momentum in the second half and pushed the lead out to as many as 14 at 43-29. Brent Bowman then took over for the Flames. He hit three straight buckets for the Flames going on a 8-0 run by himself. He had 17 points in the game which was a season high for him. But he fouled out of the contest with 2:30 remaining.

Lee made several outside shots to bring it to within a 62-59 game. However, every time the Flames got close, Max Thurman hit a big three-point shot. He made four of the eight outside shots. Flames got to the score to 70-65 before Tariq Daughton and Chatman hit big shots to make it 70-68. The Chargers made a free throw to give them 71 points with six seconds left. After a timeout, Lee had two shots to tie it. Daughton’s contested shot rimmed out and then after a tip Gray attempted a three as time expired and it hit the rim and rolled out.

Bowman led scorers with 17 points. Boler-Kyle had 12 and Chatman had 10. Luke Burnett had 15 to pace the Chargers.

The Flames will continue the road trip and head to Livingston, Ala. They will take on the University of West Alabama on Saturday at 5 p.m.