The men’s basketball team concluded the most successful season in school history, marching all the way into the elite eight of the NAIA National Tournament. After breezing through Langston and Cumberlands by comfortable margins, the Flames finally met their match against defending national champions, and eventual repeat champions, Oklahoma City University, losing a 86-66 heartbreaker.

The 2007-08 season will undoubtedly go down as the most successful year in the history of men’s basketball at Lee, a campaign that included a number two national ranking, only one regular season loss, a regular season conference title as well as a conference tournament championship.

Both individually and corporately, the Flames achieved and surpassed all expectations, establishing new standards of excellence along the way.

The Flames’ greatest regular season victory came on Feb. 23 against Mountain State University, a team that had been ranked number one for most of the year and who would eventually battle Oklahoma City for the national title.

On Dec. 29, the Flames established its resolve against NCAA Division I school East Carolina University in a highly-contested 77-75 win that might as well be considered the runner-up victory of the year.

On the individual front, many Flames players were honored with awards for their season performances.

Brad Harris was named 1st team NAIA All-American and 1st team All-Conference player.

“As for the personal awards I view them as a tribute to our teams success. The only way I could have had any individual success is because of such great teammates,” said Harris.

Freddie Williams, who played a big role in the conference and national tournament, was named MVP of the conference tournament, and Harold Griffin was named to the All-Tournament team.

“The way I played in the tournament was just the way I knew I had to play for us to win. The ‘big light’ games are the ones that I wanted to step it up in the most,” said Williams.

Murray Jenkins received the Champions of Character award at the National Tournament and was granted a Champions of Character scholarship, an accolade given out to only five of 32 prospects.
Other notables included Elmar Kuli-Zade, named SSAC Newcomer of the Year, and Kellen Pickel, honored with the conference’s sixth man award.

Coach Tommy Brown was also recognized for his remarkable effort this season. He received the Coach of the Year Award for the SSAC, and was named Victory Sports NAIA Division I Coach of the Year.

To make this all happen, a team must possess character, unselfishness and a desire to win - something the Lee Flames proved time and time again throughout the season. Everyone knew and played his role to its maximum potential, doing so in an unselfish and disciplined manner. No matter who started the game or who received the game’s top honor after the buzzer sounded, the Flames truly played as a team, as a single unit. It is for that very attitude that they might as well go down as the greatest basketball team in Lee University history.