LAKELAND - Shooting 75 percent from 3-point range in the second half and getting 50 points from their bench, the Florida Southern Moccasins pulled away in the second half for an 88-65 win over Puerto Rico-Bayamon on Tuesday night.
The Moccasins (6-1) never trailed but led by only seven at halftime while shooting 37 percent from the floor and making just four-of-16 shots behind the arc. That changed in the second half when the Mocs shot 50 percent overall and made six of their eight attempts from long range.
Braxton Williams hit the first one in the second half, giving the Mocs a 47-36 lead. When the Cowboys (1-2) got within single digits again a few minutes later, it was Rion Rayfield who made a 3-point shot that started a 14-4 run. The Mocs maintained a comfortable lead for the rest of the night.
Preston Fredrick led Florida Southern with 16 points off the bench, and Williams scored 15. All of those points from Williams came on 3-point field goals as the fifth-year senior was five-for-eight behind the arc.
Two other Moccasins also reached double figures in a reserve role, with Brandon Jenkins scoring 12 and John Thompson scoring 11. Rob Eldridge, the Mocs' leading scorer coming into the game, was held to just two points but he grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds and handed out seven assists.
UPR-Bayamon, which was coming off a win over Rollins, was just two-for-14 on 3-point tries and committed 24 turnovers. Angel Feliciano led the Cowboys with 18 points and 14 rebounds, while Michael Gonzalez had 16 points, eight boards and five assists. Melvin Rivera added 14 points.
Florida Southern will be on the road for the rest of Thanksgiving Break, playing in the Bill Joergens Tournament hosted by the University of Southern Indiana. The Mocs will face Bellarmine (KY) on Friday, and Southern Indiana on Saturday.
