Box Score The Moccasins got the shot they wanted, a three-point attempt by Seth Evans to tie the game, but it was just off the mark at the final buzzer and Saint Leo escaped with a 75-72 win Wednesday night at Jenkins Field House.
Saint Leo started strong, but had to withstand a strong finish by the Moccasins. The Lions (13-10, 7-6 SSC) never trailed in the game, led by as many as 14 in the first half and led by a dozen, 34-22, at halftime. In the second half, though, the Moccasins were able to pull even twice, at 60-60 with 5:26 left and at 62-62 with 4:37 to go, but couldn't take the lead.
The Moccasins were almost able to offset a first half shooting percentage of 23.5 (8-34) with a 51.7 percentage in the second half (15-29), but the Lions shot 52 percent (13-25) in the second half.
Twice the Moccasins got as close as two points in the final 19 seconds, but the Lions had an answer both times. After Brett Bailey's basket cut the margin to 72-70 with 19 seconds left, the Lions' Marcus Ruh sank a pair of free throws to push the lead back to four. Dominic Lane's layup with nine seconds to go made it 74-72, but Dominick Robinson, whose three-pointer at the buzzer had won the Jan. 11 game for the Lions at Saint Leo, connected on one of two free throws to put the lead at three points with seven seconds left.
The Moccasins had time to get the ball down the court for the shot they wanted, as Evans popped out on the left side of the free throw circle behind the three-point line, but his shot was just barely off target.
Evans finished with a game-high 25 points off the bench, including eight of eight from the free throw line. Bailey had 14 points, Dominic Lane posted a double-double with 12 points and a career-high 12 rebounds and Kevin Capers added 11 points.
Ruh paced the Lions with 19 points. Robinson had 15, Tom Neary Tossed in 14 and Trent Thomas picked up 10.
The Moccasins (14-9, 7-7 SSC) play their final SSC road game Saturday at 4 p.m. at Lynn.
