BANNER ELK, N.C. – Michael Mays of King men's basketball scored 38 points on 12-20 to capture the 96-86 victory in tonight's "Battle for the Blue Ridge Cup" against Lees-McRae on the McNair & Debi Tornow Court.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King – 96; Lees-McRae – 86
LOCATION: McNair & Debi Tornow Court – Banner Elk, North Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (2-5/0-2), King (3-4/2-0)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Drew Gardner scored the first basket of the game off a layup with 18:44 remaining in the first with the Bobcats leading 2-1. Lees-McRae regained the lead at 17-15 after a layup via Brandon Brown, but King claimed the 20-17 lead after a three by Mays.
- King took the 43-34 advantage into the halftime break after a made three-pointer by Jaylen Bernard with 32 seconds remaining in the half.
- Timon Jones opened the scoring in the second half to cut the Bobcat deficit to seven, but King doubled its lead to 14 after a made basket by Mays with 16:54 left in the second half.
- Williams Onyeodi registered the first three of the night for Lees-McRae to cut the deficit to eight points at 11:56, but Mays answered once more with a three of his own.
- Justin Nichelson narrowed the Tornado lead to six off a fast break dunk after a steal by Drew Gardner at the 8:26 mark.
- The Bobcats trimmed the King advantage to single digits with 1:57 left in the second, but the Tornado claimed the 96-86 win over Lees-McRae on Wednesday night.
- Stewart led the Bobcats with 16 points on 7-11 shooting and recorded two assists on the night. Dollar followed with a perfect 6-6 from the floor and 14 points.
- Gardner and Timon Jones registered 12 points apiece and Gardner hauled in 10 rebounds for a double-double.
FOR THE TORNADO:
- Mays tallied 38 points in 38 minutes of action on 12-20 from the field and five three-pointers. Kenny Turner, Brandon Lamberth, Amarius Beasley, and Jaylen Bernard each added double-digit points in their minutes played also.
NOTEWORTHY:
- King secured the one point in tonight's men's basketball of the "Battle for the Blue Ridge Cup" as the Tornado took two points this evening with the doubleheader sweep.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae men's basketball is back in action on Saturday, Dec. 3 against Conference Carolinas member Chowan. The tip-off is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start in Murfreesboro, North Carolina.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on Twitter (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
