Before joining the Fort Benning Knights, David Lee of the 75th Ranger Regiment had not played basketball in four months because of a deployment to Afghanistan.

Lee was named the Commander’s Cup Postseason Tournament MVP in March when the Rangers won the tournament title over MEDDAC.

After a slow start to the season, Lee broke out with 14 second-half points Thursday as the Knights defeated The Champ is Here, a Columbus Parks and Recreation team, 65-49 at the Psalmond Road Recreation Center.

“I’ve been waiting for it,” Lee said about his performance. “I’ve been trying to get that rhythm back. It was also the first game I started. The shots came a lot easier tonight.”

Lee was silent in the first half, as was All-Army tryout Robert Hartfield as the Knights struggled to adjust offensively to the zone defense of The Champ.

Head coach Carl Little said his team was rusty after not playing a game since Dec. 8.

“Once the second half started, they got into their flow,” Little said.

Trailing 30-27 early in the second half, The Knights went on an 18-5 run, which was sparked by two 3-pointers by Lee.

“I told (Lee) to play his game, the same way he plays in intramurals,” Little said. “Players who join teams late just try to fit in and not rock the boat. But I know he can score and I just told him to score.”

Jonathan McKinney had 13 points and Hartfield finished with nine.

Little said if Lee can consistently play like he did Thursday, he plans to move him into the starting lineup permanently. And if he consistently gives the Knights 15 points per game, Little said he will have an even more dangerous team.

“I don’t think we’ll lose a game,” he said.

“When we added him, I think we went to the next level.”

Fort Benning’s next game will be Thursday against Pratt & Whittney at the Pslamond Road Recreation Center. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.