Dragons advance to quarterfinals with convincing win over Paine
Josh Lemons
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (February 27, 2018) - Sometimes, you peak at the right time. For senior forward Jaylen Lewis, that time is now. Look at his season high stats, you'll see all of his best games statistically have come in the last four games, including senior night against rival Lemoyne-Owen College.
But none were bigger than his performance in Lane College's 80-60 victory against Paine College in the opening round of the SIAC basketball tournament Tuesday afternoon in Birmingham, Ala.
Lewis finished with a season-and-game-high 21 points off a 9-for-15 shooting performance. Lewis also pulled in five rebounds and three steals in the win.
Junior forward Kendarius Ash picked up his 19th double-double of the season, finishing with 18 points and 22 rebounds. Ash also added four assists and three steals.
Outside shooters Ai'Shontis Sanders and Myles Lee dropped in 17 points and 12 points, respectively. Twenty-four of those points came from beyond the arc.
The Dragons will play Claflin University on Thursday afternoon at 3:15 p.m. CST after the Panthers knocked off Tuskegee Tuesday evening, 73-62.
Dragons' Head Coach Bryanth Basemore said the team is treating this tournament as a 'One-and-Done' and that they are not looking over any of their opponents, no matter what their seeding.
"The young men have bought in and they understand what we are asking and what we want done," Basemore said. "We're just taking it game by game."
