SAINT LEO, Fla. – Saint Leo men's basketball would hold Flagler to just 15 second half points on its way to a lopsided 74-45 decision to close out the Saint Leo Classic Sunday with a 2-0 record inside the Marion Bowman Activities Center.

The Lions (3-1) shot 41.5-percent from the field (27-65) including a 38.7-percent mark (12-31) from downtown. Saint Leo tallied 49 rebounds on the night led by Yalen Reed with 10. Isaiah Hill and Kyran McClure each scored over 20 points with Hill leading all scorers with 24 and McClure at 21. Wade Coomer joined Hill and McClure in double-figures with 11 points while six other players were in the scoring column. Saint Leo held Flagler to 29.3-percent shooting after a 23.3-percent second half. The biggest difference of the day was the three-point shooting where the Lions went 12-for-31 (38.7-percent), the Saints shot just 24-percent (6-25). 

"Flagler is an excellent offensive team and extremely well-coached," head coach Lance Randall commented outside the lockerroom following the win Sunday.  "I thought our defensive intensity and rotation in the second half was outstanding. Isaiah and Kyran were beasts on both sides of the ball all weekend. Yalen's rebounding and ball screen defense was a key in that second half. Wade and Jared's rebounding and the ability to draw the charge, set the tone off the ball for this group."
 
"It was a good team win on a home opener weekend. Holding good Division II two teams under 30-percent field goal percentage was a remarkable team effort. This group has really embraced multiple efforts on the defensive side of the ball."
 
The Lions opened the game on a quick 7-2 run before the Flagler Saints (2-3) evened things up at seven apiece with 16:23 to play. After falling behind by one, 10-9, the Green and Gold would run to a five-point spread, 15-10, with 12:30 remaining. After two quick ties, 15-15 and 18-18, the Lions used a 12-1 run to push their lead to the largest of the half of 11 points, 30-19. Over the final three minutes of action, the Saints closed the gap to just two points at the half, 32-30.
 
Saint Leo would come out of the half and lock up the Saints holding the team to just 15 second-half points. The Lions would go full speed ahead and run away with the contest outscoring Flagler 42-15 for a 74-45 final.

Randall closed, "[in] The second half, we trusted each other offensively and had better flow and more ball reversals and movement. It translated to much better shots in that half."
 
"Isaiah holding Gedi Juozapitis to zero points on one shot was as good as individual effort I have seen. We got some good bench play today, especially in that second half."
 
Beyond the Boxscore

• Kyran McClure has scored 20-plus points in each of the first two home games; 27 and 21 respectively.
• Isaiah Hill has scored in double-digits in all four games this season; 13-16-15-24.
• Yalen Reed has posted back-to-back double-figure rebounding performances; 13 and 10.
• Saint Leo went undefeated in the Saint Leo Classic (2-0) while Georgia College and Flagler each went 1-1. Tampa went winless at 0-2.
• The win over Flagler pushed the all-time record to 5-4 in favor of the Lions.
• The win Saturday over Georgia College marked the first win in the series between the two teams.
• The Green and Gold's 3-1 start is the best start through four games since the 2015-16 season.

Up Next
Saint Leo will return to action Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. against Puerto Rico-Mayaguez inside the Marion Bowman Activities Center, following the women's basketball game at 5:30 p.m.
 
For the latest news, updates, and information on the Saint Leo men's basketball, be sure to visit SaintLeoLions.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Lions news by following Saint Leo Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Don't miss out on the 2019-20 Basketball Pride Pass, now on sale. The Saint Leo Basketball Pride Pass gives each fan admission to all home men's and women's basketball events. For more information visit here.