LAKELAND - Led by big game from Rashaad Singleton, Florida Southern rolled to a 109-86 win over Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras in its home opener Tuesday night, as the 4th-ranked Moccasins improved to 4-1 on the season.
The Gallitos (0-2) had no answer for Singleton, a 7-0 transfer from the University of Georgia, who dominated the paint the entire night. Singleton scored 21 points while making all nine of his field goal attempts, grabbed nine rebounds, and blocked four shots. He did most of his damage in the first half as the Mocs led 54-40 lead at the break.
Singleton certainly wasn't the only standout for the Moccasins. Rion Rayfield scored 17 points, handed out five assists and had six rebounds. The sophomore guard was six-for-10 from the field and four-of-seven behind the arc. Braxton Williams scored 13 points, Rob Eldridge had 12, and Zach Smith added 10 points, six assists and three steals. John Thompson chipped in with eight points and a game-high 14 rebounds off the bench.
UPR-Rio Piedras kept the game close for most of the first half before being out-scored 8-1 in the final 2:44 of the period. That trend continued after the break too, as the Moccasins opened the second half with a 17-2 run, sparked by eight points from Smith. The Mocs would push their lead to 30 at one point, and the Gallitos never came close again.
Florida Southern shot 54 percent from the floor, hit nine 3-pointers, out-rebounded Rio Piedras by a 58-29 margin, and forced 20 turnovers.
FSC travels to Valdosta, Ga., to take on the 3-0 Blazers Saturday at 7 :30 p.m. The Moccasins' next home game will be Tuesday, November 25, when they host the University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon at 7:30 p.m.
