Box Score Down 17 points, 28-11, with 8:58 left in the first half, the Moccasins staged a remarkable comeback and beat Florida Tech, 86-75, in their Sunshine State Conference game at Jenkins Field House Thursday night. The outcome left both teams with identical records of 6-2 overall, 1-1 in the SSC.
The Moccasins went almost four minutes without a point, as the Panthers extended an 18-11 advantage with a 10-0 run. Brett Bailey broke the Moccasins' scoring drought with 8:06 left in the half and from that point things began to go the Moccasins' way. Still down 11, 36-25, at the 3:32 mark, the Moccasins scored the final seven points of the half to trim the margin to 36-32 at halftime.
In the second half the Moccasins continued their charge and with 11:25 left in the game, Garrett Putman's jumper gave the Moccasins a lead, 52-50, that they kept for the rest of the game. It was their biggest comeback since overcoming a 22-point deficit against Tampa on Jan. 20, 2010, at Jenkins Field House to post a 95-89 overtime victory.
Dominic Lane sparkled on both ends of the court for the Mocs. The sophomore from St. Petersburg notched career-highs in points (20) and rebounds (11) to post his second double-double of the season. He was 11-13 from the free throw line and matched his previous career-highs with five assists and four steals.
Bailey barely missed his third double-double of the season with a 19-point, nine-rebound effort. Seth Evans extended his FSC record string of consecutive free throws made to 30 before missing one at the 12:22 mark in the second half. He finished with 16 points, was 8-10 from the free throw line and delivered six assists. Andre Hawkins made his first two free throws of the season and he now has a streak of 21 consecutive made free throws carrying over from last season.
Derek Helleman was one of four Panthers in double figures with a team-best 19 points. Julius Reid had 16, while Simon Cummings and Jermaine Jackson each scored 15.
The Moccasins enjoyed big advantages at the free throw line and in rebounding. They were 29-44 from the line, while the Panthers were 18-28 and they out-rebounded the Panthers 45-38. By shooting 56.7 percent from the field in the second half, the Moccasins offset their 31.3 percentage from the first half finished the game with a 43.5 field goal percentage. The Panthers had shot 45.2 percent in the first half, but cooled off to 38.7 percent in the second half and finished at 41.9 percent.
Final exams are next on the agenda for the Moccasins. They'll return to basketball competition Dec. 17 with a 7:30 p.m. game against Chowan University (N.C.) at Jenkins Field House.
