A HotTimeintheFurnace

The Flames survived a season which saw LU asthemarked team intheBig South conference. LU,led by seniorcenter PeterAluma,was picked astheNo. 1 team inthepreseason Big South pollsand fought through adversity towin 20 games forthesecond time asa Division I competitor.

LU made itthrough theseason nearthe topby playing thetoughest defense inthe league, holding its BigSouth opponentsto a measly 61.6pointsper game average.

As forhisseniorseason, Aluma said, "It was abittersweetexperience. (Before seniornight) Iwasn't abletotakea nap beforethegame.Iwas reflectingaboutthe fouryearsthathave gone by so fast."

The Big South'sall-timeleading shot blocker came intotheseason asone of the most heralded playersever tohit thepaint intheBigSouth conference. He was named thepreseason Player oftheYear and named to Athlon Sports Magazine's AllAmerican sixthteam.

Despite facingdouble and triple-team coverage throughout most oftheseason, Aluma posted solidstatistics thatarethe bane ofevery competition coach intheBig South. He averaged 16points, sixrebounds and threeblocked shotsper contestduring hisseniorseason.

The Flames' back courthad a formidable duo with Marcus White and LarryJackson. EricSorenson and Walter "Boo"Graham provided depth inthepower forward slot

Whenever called upon,thefans, theunofficialsixthplayer on the team, provided thenoisetoheat up the furnace.

-Rich Maclone