MELBOURNE - Florida Tech snapped FSC's 13-game winning streak with an 88-83 Sunshine State Conference victory over the 20th-ranked Moccasins here Wednesday night.
The loss dropped the Moccasins (19-5, 8-2 SSC) into a first-place tie with Rollins, which beat Saint Leo Wednesday night.
Florida Tech led 45-40 at halftime and maintained the lead until the Moccasins tied it at 66-66 with 8:18 left. The game was tied five more times and the Moccasins were able to take three brief leads, the last coming with 1:17 to go on a basket by Rob Eldridge. However, Derek Helleman put the Panthers back in front with just under a minute to play and Florida Tech (11-10, 3-7 SSC) made six free throws in the closing seconds to maintain the lead.
Eldridge led FSC with 16 points. Braxton Williams scored 12 and Rashaad Singleton added 10.
Helleman and Ryan Ballard each had 18 points for Florida Tech.
The Mocs entertain Barry Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Jenkins Field House.
