LAKELAND - Brandon Jenkins scored 23 points, Rob Eldridge scored 17, and Rashaad Singleton had a big night defensively as Florida Southern routed Palm Beach Atlantic, 115-85 at Jenkins Field House Saturday night.
The Moccasins (15-4) extended their winning streak to nine games with their highest point total since a 115-65 win over Palm Beach Atlantic last year. The Mocs were never seriously challenged, leading by double digits for the final 32 minutes, and by at least 30 for the entire second half. The game was essentially over by halftime with the Mocs ahead 61-30 and shooting 73 percent from the floor. They finished the night at 64 percent.
Jenkins and Eldridge got Florida Southern going, with Jenkins scoring 19 of his 23 points in the first half, and Eldridge scoring 15 of his 17 during the same time frame. Jenkins hit all six of his first-half field goals attempts, with five of them coming from 3-point range. He also had seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. Eldridge picked up three rebounds, five assists, four steals and a blocked shot in addition to his point total.
Eldridge scored the first five points for the Moccasins before a 3-pointer by Jenkins at the 16:38 mark put the Mocs ahead 8-5, a lead they would hold the rest of the night. Later, with the score 35-20, Jenkins and Braxton Williams sparked a 17-4 run by the Moccasins by each hitting a pair of 3-point field goals. The Sailfish (8-11) failed to make a shot during that stretch, going 0-for-11, while the Mocs scored on seven of eight possessions during that stretch to steadily pull away.
Singleton was perhaps the biggest reason the Sailfish had problems scoring. The 7-0 center had six blocked shots during the first half in addition to six points and five rebounds. His presence in the lane also affected several other scoring chances. Singleton ended up with nine points, eight boards and six blocks in the game.
While Florida Southern was 19-for-26 from the floor in the first half, Palm Beach Atlantic was only nine-for-36 (25 percent) and also committed 10 turnovers. The Sailfish did shoot 55 percent in the second half when they scored 55 points, but the game was long decided. Jonathan Lawrence led the Sailfish with 14, Manny Lopez scored 13, Phil Pejovic scored 12, and Reagan Sims added 11.
All 15 players in uniform played at least five minutes for the Moccasins, with only Jenkins and Eldridge (22 apiece) playing more than 19. Preston Fredrick scored 13 points off the bench, Zach Smith scored 10, despite barely playing in the second half, Singleton had nine, and Rion Rayfield added eight points and six assists.
Florida Southern returns to Sunshine State Conference play on Wednesday night when it hosts the University of Tampa at 7:30 p.m.
