Daniel Lee scored 17 points to lead Morgan to a 56-54 win over Fort Dale on Friday in the Pepsi Classic at Morgan Academy.

His biggest of several clutch shots came with the Senators clinging to a three-point lead with 3:43 remaining in the game. He forced a steal, drove for a layup and completed an old-fashioned three-point play to push Morgan’s lead to 49-43.

“Daniel was a momentum changer on that play,” said Morgan coach Lee Tate. We’re thankful to get away with a win in a close ball game.”

The Senators started well, running out to a quick 6-0 lead. But it quickly evaporated as the Eagles’ shooting touch warmed and the Senators cooled.

The Eagles led for most of the second quarter and the entire third quarter before Morgan stormed back in the fourth.

“We lost composure late,” said Fort Dale coach William Johnson. “You can’t lose composure like that.”

The Senators went on a 13-3 tear sparked by a Sam Tate layup and transition baskets to take a 46-40 lead.

Sanders Hancock answered with a 3-pointer to cut the lead in half, but Lee stepped in to hamper the Eagles’ comeback hopes.

Fort Dale still had an opportunity to steal the win at the end. With 3.9 second left, Luke Hutcheson intercepted a Morgan inbounds pass and threw a desperation heave. But the ball hit a ceiling light, and fell harmlessly to the floor.

Tate added 14 points to the Senators’ efforts, and Coal Brown added 11.

Hancock led the Eagles with 16 points.

Morgan moves on to the championship game against Central Christian today at 1:45 p.m. The Eagles battle Lee-Scott for third place at 11:15 a.m.