The Lee University men’s basketball team tasted defeat for the first time this season with a 79-56 setback to Carson-Newman University Saturday afternoon. The Flames (4-1) return home on Thurs., Nov. 30, to open Gulf South Conference play against Auburn Montgomery at 8 p.m.
Carson-Newman (5-0) held a slim 34-32 advantage at the halftime break before outscoring the Flames 45-24 over the final 20 minutes to post the 23-point win. The Eagles are receiving votes in both the D2SIDA and NABC polls.
Lee had two players score in double figures. Colton Blevins led the way with 11 points to go with six rebounds. Parker Suedekum made two 3-pointers to help him finish with 10 points. Suedekum also contributed two rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Ryan Montgomery and Chase Cullen added eight points each. Cody Jones and Levi Woods each tallied six markers. Keaton Dotson made one 3-pointer, while Leander Ridgeway, Jr., and Jason Landman had one field goal each.
Cullen led the Lee effort on the glass with seven boards. The Flames finished with 34 rebounds to the Eagles’ 37. Lee turned 10 offensive rebounds into just six points, while the home team scored 12 points off six offensive rebounds.
The Eagles forced Lee into 15 turnovers and cashed them in for 16 points. Lee converted 14 Carson-Newman floor mistakes into nine points.
The Flames made 13-of-31 (.419) shots from the field in the first half, but cooled to under 29-percent (8-for-28) in the second half. Overall, Lee was 21-for-59 (.356) from the floor, while making 5-of-30 (.167) attempts from behind the arc. Carson-Newman was 27-for-51 (.529) overall and made 7-of-20 (.350) 3-point shots.
Carson-Newman also held an advantage at the charity stripe. The Eagles made 27 trips to the line and made 18 (.667), while the Flames toed the line just 15 times and converted nine (.600).