BRISTOL, Tenn. --- Junior Darius Malbon scored 10 points off the bench, but the Lees-McRae men's basketball team dropped an 87-62 decision to King (Tenn.) in Conference Carolinas action Wednesday evening at the Student Center Complex in Bristol, Tenn.
The Tornado (15-5, 10-2 CC) had three players in double figures, including a game-high 22 from CJ Good. The Bobcats (12-10, 8-4) had four players with eight points or more.
King led wire-to-wire while knocking down 11 three-point shots.
The Tornado stormed out a 15-3 lead in the first 5:25 of action.
LMC senior Kendall Isler (Winder, Ga.) swished a pair from the charity stripe to cut the deficit to nine, 23-14.
Malbon (Hickory, N.C.) nailed a three with 7:15 left in the first while LMC trailed 30-20.
King took a 45-29 lead into the break while holding the Bobcats to a 26.5% clip from the field.
The Bobcats would cut the deficit to 13, twice, thanks to a four-point outburst from senior Austin Anderson (Anderson, S.C.).
The Tornado kept LMC at bay from behind the arc in the second half while maintaining a healthy lead.
King's Hunter LeVeau finished with 15 points.
Anderson scored nine points while grabbing seven rebounds. Lepreece Lynch (Winston-Salem, N.C.) led the squad with eight boards.
LMC looks to bounce back when it welcomes Barton Saturday, Feb. 6 at 4 p.m. for a CC game in Williams Gymnasium.
- LMC -
