March 21, 2008

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Lee University (Tenn.) scored the first 11 points of the game but needed a second-half rally to post an 84-72 victory Friday against the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) in the second round of the 2008 Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship at Municipal Auditorium.

Lee overcame a 43-36 halftime deficit to earn their second trip to the quarterfinal round of the NAIA Tournament. The second-seeded Flames moved to 33-1 on the year and extended their win streak to 13 consecutive games. Lee will meet either Oklahoma City University or California Baptist University Saturday at 8 p.m. CST.

Junior guard Freddie Williams scored a team-high 20 points for Lee, while junior guard Elmar Kuli-Zade was right behind with 19 points and three assists. Junior forward Paco Diaw came off the bench to post 15 points for the Flames. Lee made 24-of-29 free throw attempts in the contest and made half of their 16 three-point tries against Cumberlands.

Williams scored the final five points of the Flames' opening run, which came in the first 2:46 of play. The lead eventually grew to 18-4 before Cumberlands started to chip away at the deficit. The Patriots reeled off 12 consecutive points to take their first lead of the night, 31-28, at the 6:26 mark. Cumberlands stretched the margin to 43-36 at the half.

The Flames tied the contest early in the second half before Cumberlands regained a slight advantage. Lee battled back once again regained the lead for good, 73-64, thanks to a trio of three-point field goals in the later stages of the second half. Senior guard Brad Harris connected on the first two, and Diaw finished off the burst on a three-pointer with 4:05 to play.

Cumberlands scored 42 of its 72 points off the bench against Lee. Junior guard Terrance Asmond led the charge for the Patriots with 21 points in a reserve role, while junior forward Luke Fitzgerald scored 20 points. Sophomore guard Dustin Fothergill chipped in with 19 points off the bench for Cumberlands, which closes the season with a record of 20-14.