Staff Report
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Former Bradley Central High School standout Kellen Pickel scored 17 points to lead second-ranked Lee University to a 77-67 victory over Langston (Okla.) University in the first round of the NAIA Division I men’s basketball tournament Friday.
The heavily favored Flames (32-1) from Cleveland, Tenn., shot only 33.3 percent from the field in the first half but led 31-28 and hit 13 of 26 shots in the second half. Langston (15-13) shot 35.4 percent for the game.
Pickel came off the bench to make four of seven 3-point launches and six of 11 shots overall. Brad Harris, Freddie Williams and Elmar Kuli-Zade added 12, 11 and 10 points, Kuli-Zade with five assists, and Paco Diaw and Joe Fulp pulled down 12 and nine rebounds. Harold Griffin blocked two shots.
Phillip Brooks scored 13 points and Ralph Hishaw and Geremie Allison added 12 apiece for Langston.
Lee faces University of the Cumberlands (20-13) tonight at 9 EDT. The Patriots from Williamsburg, Ky., won 75-62 over Lewis-Clark State.
Lee’s Lady Flames (32-2), who advanced past Brescia on Wednesday, play at 3:15 EDT today in Jackson, Tenn., against Lubbock Christian (24-9).
Lee’s men led 14-4 before yielding 12 straight points to the Oklahoma team, but seven consecutive Flames points put them ahead 28-21. Langston got within 38-37 on a Brooks free throw with 16:01 left to play, but Lee scored the next 14 points and maintained control.
The Flames made only nine turnovers and had 42 rebounds compared to Langston’s 44.
