DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College men's basketball team (1-6, 0-2 CC) was defeated by Lees-McRae College (7-1, 2-0 CC) by a score of 78-67 at Belk Arena on Thursday.

The Fleet used an early 8-0 run to take the lead and stayed in front for a majority of the first half, but the Bobcats outscored the Fleet by four in the final five minutes of the half as Erskine trailed by one at the break. Erskine drew level multiple times in the early stages of the second half and hung around valiantly, until a 10-2 Bobcats run extended the visitors' lead to 11 with 8:45 remaining. Erskine responded well and climbed within a point but a 12-3 LMC run to close the game handed Erskine an 11-point loss in its conference home opener in 2023-24.
 
GAME STATS vs Lees-McRae (L 67-78)
POINTS: Christian Monroe (17)
REBOUNDS: Jaylen Prioleau (9)
ASSISTS: Moses Cheek (3)
STEALS: Corey Gaines (3)

THE PLAYER
Freshman guard Corey Gaines did not start the game, but filled the stat sheet in his 27 minutes off the Fleet bench. Gaines finished with 10 points on an efficient 4-6 shooting from the field, as well as 5 rebounds, 3 steals, and a pair of assists.

THE TEAM
Erskine shot 44% (21-48) from the field and 30% (6-20) from the three-point line. The Fleet were 83% (19-23) from the free throw line, but were undone by 22 turnovers, which Lees-McRae turned into 25 points. However, the Fleet matched the Bobcats' depth, as nine different Erskine players made a field goal, and four finished in double figures. Along with Monroe's team-high 17 and Gaines' 10 off the bench, Max Peeler added 12 points on 4-8 shooting from long range, and Jaylen Prioleau turned in 11 points of his own.

WHAT'S NEXT? 
The Fleet turn their attention to final exams this coming week before returning to their home court next weekend, Saturday, December 16 against Barton College (3-5, 1-0 CC) at 2 p.m.

MORE ABOUT THE ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET

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