Florida Southern begins the New Year with a return to Sunshine State Conference play as the 2nd-ranked and undefeated Moccasins host Florida Tech on Saturday night. The matchup features the two highest scoring teams in the SSC, with a combined record of 21-2.
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GAME SPONSORS
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Morrick Construction & Community Southern Bank
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CATERING FOR SIXTH MAN CLUB PROVIDED BY
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Champ's
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Florida Southern Probable Starters:
F, #15, John Thompson (15.3 ppg., 8.5 rebs., .579 fg%)
F, #32, A.J. Hawkins (6.5 ppg., 4.1 rebs., .659 fg%)
G, #1, Brandon Jenkins (14.5 pts., 5.5 rebs., 4.7 asts., .529 3-pt.%)
G, #2, Terry Jenkins (14.0 pts., 2.8 rebs., 3.5 asts., .467 3-pt.%)
G, #20, Rion Rayfield (16.0 pts., 3.4 rebs., 5.5 asts., .435 3-pt.%)
Florida Tech Probable Starters:
F, #31, Justin Sedlak (21.4 pts., 8.5 rebs., 1.5 steals)
F, #33, Derek Hellemann (11.9 pts., 6.5 rebs., .544 fg%)
C, #10, Edgars Eglitis (5.1 pts., 6.2 rebs.)
G, #5, Simon Cummings (16.4 pts., 2.5 rebs., 3.5 asts., 2.5 steals)
G, #24, Donovan Woodson (4.1 pts., 1.8 rebs., 2.1 asts.)
SERIES HISTORY... Florida Southern leads the all-time series, 63-18, and is 30-8 against the Panthers in Lakeland. The teams met three times last year, splitting in the regular season (FSC won 99-86 in Lakeland, Florida Tech won 88-83 in Melbourne) before the Mocs won, 105-66, in the first round of the SSC Tournament. That last game marked the first time since 1991 the Moccasins had reached triple digits in a postseason game, whether in the conference tournament or NCAA Tournament.
ABOUT FLORIDA SOUTHERN... The Moccasins (11-0) are playing their third game since returning from Christmas break. Their first two came in the Holiday Inn South/Ledger Tournament, including a 92-83 win over St. Joseph's in the championship game. The Mocs are averaging 90.0 points and have scored at least 80 in all but one game this year. They're also shooting 49 percent from the floor, 45 percent from 3-point distance, and 72 percent from the line. However, they've trailed at halftime in three of their last four games, and had to overcome double-digit deficits in two of them. Florida Southern's top four scorers are all averaging at least 14 points per game and lately A.J. Hawkins has been scoring in double figures too, averaging 11.0 points and 5.0 rebounds since returning from break. Rion Rayfield is the Mocs' leading scorer for the season, and was named the MVP of their recent holiday tournament. He scored 21 points in a win over Lake Erie, and added 18 points, 14 assists, five rebounds and five steals in the championship game. Brandon Jenkins was also on the all-tournament team with 30 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in the two games, and John Thompson made the team as well, totaling 31 points and 15 rebounds. The Mocs have also received outstanding play from reserves Damon Ellison and Preston Fredrick in recent games, with Ellison and Thompson teaming up for two big plays in the final seven seconds of the Lake Erie game that allowed the Mocs to rally four a 2-point win.
ABOUT FLORIDA TECH... Florida Tech (10-2) is the league's second highest scoring team behind Florida Southern, with the Panthers averaging 88.1 points per game. They've scored 90 or more in six games, including three of their last four. However, one of those was a 94-90 loss to Wartburg in their most recent game on Wednesday. Tech's only conference game so far was a 77-70 loss to Tampa. The Panthers are one of three teams in the SSC this year that returned four starters from last year, but in reality, they have five. Their leading scorer, Justin Sedlak, redshirted with an ankle injury in 2009, but was an all-conference pick two years ago when he averaged 17.8 points and 8.4 rebounds. He's among the league leaders in both categories again this year. Meanwhile, Simon Cummings and Derek Hellemann were both members of the 2009 SSC All-Freshman Team, with Hellemann named the SSC Freshman-of-the-Year. Cummings has scored 60 points in Florida Tech's two games since returning from Christmas break, playing all 40 minutes both nights. Florida Tech is averaging eight 3-pointers per game (one less than Florida Southern), but their ability to shoot from long range was dealt a major blow two weeks ago when freshman Julius Reid was lost for the season with a foot injury. He was averaging 12.0 points per game and leading the SSC with a 53.8 3-point field goal percentage.
