Four games remain in the regular season, and only three Sunshine State Conference games remain as Florida Southern (14-8, 7-6) begins the home stretch of the 2011-12 season Wednesday night against Saint Leo (12-10, 6-6). The Moccasins are still alive in the race for the SSC regular season title, but also still need at least two more wins to assure themselves of a first-round home game in the conference tournament.
Live stats fwill be available at: http://www.flsouthern.edu/athletics/mens/livestats/xlive.htm
A live audio/video webcast will be available at: http://fscmocs.nmtvsports.com
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GAME SPONSORS
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Riley Short, CPS Investments & Bank of Central Florida
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CATERING FOR SIXTH MAN CLUB PROVIDED BY
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The Winner's Circle
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Florida Southern Probable Starters:
F, #40, Brett Bailey (14.9 pts., 7.2 rebs., .549 fg%)
G, #00, Kevin Capers (14.1 pts., 2.5 rebs., 3.7 asts.)
G, #1, Cameron Vines (6.9 pts., 4.8 rebs.)
G, #5, Dominic Lane (11.8 pts., 5.3 rebs., 2.1 asts.)
G, #14, Tyler Kelly (5.6 pts., 2.0 rebs., 3.9 asts.)
SERIES HISTORY... Florida Southern has owned the all-time series with Saint Leo, with an 83-13 record, and has won 29 of the last 30 games in Jenkins Field House. The Lions' only win at Jenkins during that time came in 2006. Earlier this year at Saint Leo, the Lions defeated the Moccasins 60-57, as Dominick Robinson hit the game-winning 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds remaining. Saint Leo shot just 36 percent in the game, and Florida Southern shot just 37 percent. The Mocs were also just 8-for-18 from the free throw line. Florida Southern is now 9-3 against Saint Leo under current coach Linc Darner, and 6-0 at home, including one win in the SSC Tournament.
ABOUT FLORIDA SOUTHERN... The Moccasins are coming off a 71-67 win at Barry on Saturday that allowed them to move back into the top half of the Sunshine State Conference standings. Since the top four teams at the end of the regular season host first-round games in the conference tournament, the Mocs will need to remain there in order to play the entire tournament on their home court. They're already the host site for the semifinals and championship game the first weekend of March. If the Mocs win two of their final three SSC games, they'll likely host a first-round game, and they're still mathematically alive for the SSC regular season title too, but will need outside help to win it. At home this year, Florida Southern is 11-2 and averaging nearly eight points more per game than on the road. Overall, the Mocs still have three of the league's top six individual scorers, led by Seth Evans at 16.6 points per game. He also ranks second in free throw percentage (.899), fourth in 3-point percentage (.394) and eighth in assists (2.8 per game) In addition to those numbers, Evans is 17th in the nation in 3-point field goals per game at 3.05. Evans is third in the SSC in scoring, Brett Bailey ranks fourth and freshman Kevin Capers ranks sixth. Dominic Lane gives Florida Southern a fourth player scoring in double figures, and is second on the team in both 3-pointers (37) and steals (34). He had a career-high 27 points in the Mocs' last home game against Nova Southeastern. Tyler Kelly leads Florida Southern and is now second in the SSC with 3.9 assists per game, and is shooting 55 percent from the floor over the last four games while making 7-of-13 attempts from 3-point range during that span. Kelly and Cameron Vines, both freshmen, are averaging 8.5 points over the last four games as well. Garrett Putman contributes 5.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, and had a season-high 12 rebounds in the first meeting with Saint Leo.
ABOUT SAINT LEO... Saint Leo comes into Wednesday night's game on a 3-game winning streak following victories over Florida Tech, Tampa and Rollins. Under new head coach Lance Randall, and with 12 newcomers on the roster, the Lions are seeking their first winning season in 13 years. They have never swept Florida Southern in a season series since the two schools were charter members of the Sunshine State Conference in 1975-76. Saint Leo has been winning largely behind its defense, which ranks eighth in Division II in scoring defense (58.6 ppg.). The Lions also lead the SSC in that category, and are second in the SSC in field goal percentage defense (.408). They've held 14 of their 22 opponents to less than 60 points, and limited national scoring leader West Liberty State to its second lowest point total of the season, 23 below its average. Offensively, Saint Leo is only eighth in the SSC with 65.6 points per game, though the Lions are third in field goal percentage and second in 3-point shooting percentage. They're led by junior guard Trent Thomas, who is fifth in the SSC with a 14.5 scoring average, and also averages 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals. Thomas leads the league with a .425 percentage from 3-point range (34-for-80) and is an 81 percent shooter from the line. His 31 points against Florida Tech earlier this year is the most for any player in the SSC this year in a conference game. Junior guard Marcus Ruh is the only other Saint Leo player averaging more than ten points per game at 11.6. He adds 4.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.9 steals per game and shoots 37 percent from long range. Dominick Robinson, who is Saint Leo's only returning starter and one of only two returning lettermen, averages 9.1 points and 3.9 rebounds. The junior guard scored a game-high 16 points against Florida Southern in the first meeting this year and had a season-high 20 points against them in 2011. Junior forward Shaun Adams adds 9.3 points and a team-high 5.5 rebounds per game.
