SEWANEE, Tenn. –
Reid Carrier netted 15 points and
Graham Smith and
Russ Marr added 12 apiece, but Lee University used a 17-3 run in the first half to pull away in an 87-66 victory over Sewanee in men's basketball exhibition action Saturday in Cleveland, Tenn.
Smith added 10 rebounds while making 5-of-7 shots for a double-double and the Tigers connected on 6-of-19 from 3-point range in the contest, but Sewanee committed 17 turnovers, which turned into 23 points for the Flames.
Fletcher Bigham collected 10 points for the Tigers as well.
Noah Boler-Kyle led five Lee players in double-digits with 14 points, while Marlon Smith netted 13 and Giancarlo Valdez, Tariq Daughton and Tylon Chatman each registered 10 points.
Consecutive field goals by Bigham, including a 3-pointer, and a triple by Carrier tied the game at 10 four minutes into the contest. Carrier added another triple, pulling the Tigers within, 16-13, but Chatman and Valdez answered with 3-pointers for the Flames, starting a 17-3 run for the home team.
Zach Gray and Hayden Moseley added triples for Lee. Bigham's layup and a 3-pointer by Marr finally ended the spurt. Marr added two more baskets from behind the arc in the half and Carrier posted two free throws and a jumper as well, but the Flames led, 54-32, at the half thanks to 13 points off seven Sewanee turnovers.
Daughton and Willie Walton connected on triples, extending the advantage for Lee to 66-39 five minutes into the second half. The Tigers put together a 10-2 spurt over the next four minutes, including two baskets by
Luka Avaliani, a dunk and two free throws from Smith and a layup from Marr. Carrier's two foul shots cut the deficit to 68-49 with 11 minutes remaining.
That was as close as Sewanee would get the rest of the way. The Tigers open the season at home next weekend, taking on Covenant College on Friday at 7 p.m. in the Lon Varnell Classic.
