Mocs Host Saint Leo Saturday Looking to Snap Three-Game Losing Streak

Moccasin Game Notes

OPENING NUMBERS OF NOTE...
1978-79 - The last time the Mocs lost its first two games to open a season.
1,091 - # of career points scored by Dominique Williams. He is the 40th Moccasin to score 1,000 points and is 27th on all-time scoring list.
203 - # of career coaching wins for Mike Donnelly entering Saturday's game with Saint Leo.
165 - # of wins for the Mocs since beginning of the 2009-10 season, which is the second most among South Region schools.
89 - # of seasons of Moccasin men's basketball entering 2015-16.
50 - # of years for Jenkins Field House entering 2015-16 season.
31 - # of wins for the Mocs during the 2015 calendar year.31-8 - FSC's record during the 2015 calendar year.29 - # of NCAA Division II Tournament appearances all-time.
26-15 - FSC's record in SSC openers all-time in school history.
23 - Single game school record 3-pointers hit by the Mocs in its 128-84 win against Miles on Dec. 20, 2015.
8 - # of consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances for the Mocs.4 - # of consecutive SSC Tournament titles for the Mocs.
2 - # of Division II basketball national titles won by FSC (1981 & 2015).
1 - # of triple-doubles in school history as Dylan Travis recorded the school's lone triple-double against Miles (11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists).

MOCCASIN QUICK NOTES
* - This is the 89th season of Moccasin basketball.
* - The Mocs played two Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponents in exhibition play as they opened the exhibition slate with a 112-68 loss at reigning Division I National Champion Duke on Oct. 30 and then fell 96-54 to Syracuse on Nov. 8 to conclude exhibition play.  
* - It is the first time the Mocs opened the season with an exhibition game against an NCAA Division I foe since falling 110-88 to Florida to open the 2013-14 season. FSC also faced Tennessee during exhibition play in 2013-14. 
* - FSC opened the season with back-to-back losses at the SSC/GSC Challenge last weekend in Livingston, Ala., as the Mocs fell to West Alabama (90-78) and Delta State (77-63). The 0-2 start to the season is the first for the Mocs since the 1978-79 season. 
* - Since losing its first two games this season, the Mocs had reeled off four consecutive victories, including opening SSC play with wins at home over Barry and on the road against Lynn, before dropping four straight games at Saint Leo, at home against Florida Tech, at Stillman and at Palm Beach Atlantic. 
* - Since the win over Eastern New Mexico on Dec. 17, the Moc have won just three of its last nine games with the only wins coming at home against both Miles (128-84) and Tampa (93-75) and on the road at Nova Southeastern (84-79). 
* - With its wins over Barry and Lynn to open SSC play this season, it marked the third time in the last four seasons that the Mocs had opened SSC play by winning its first two games. 
* - FSC finished the 2014-15 season with a school record 36 wins and posted a 36-1 overall record and captured the school's second-ever national title in men's basketball and first since 1981. In addition, the Mocs also won its third consecutive Sunshine State Conference regular season title and took home its fourth straight SSC Tournament championship.
* - The Mocs were tabbed to finish third in the Preseason SSC Coaches' Poll and earned 36 votes in the Preseason NABC Division II Coaches' Poll. In addition, the Mocs were ranked 15th in Preseason D2SIDA National Media Poll. 
* - The Mocs came into the 2015-16 season having won a school record 25 consecutive games since suffering a 107-102 loss to Barry in its SSC opener on Jan. 2, 2015, before dropping its season opener against West Alabama. Since that loss to the Bucs, the Mocs closed last year's regular season by winning its final 16 games, before winning all nine of its games in the 2015 postseason.  
* - FSC returns four key reserves from last season's national championship squad, but must replace all five of its starters who were seniors a season ago.
* - The Mocs opened the 2014-15 season with an 11-0 record for the second consecutive season and 10th time in school history last season. In 2013-14, the Mocs opened the season by winning its first 18 games. 
* - Over the past eight seasons, FSC is the second winningest NCAA men's basketball program in the state of Florida as they have won 218 games. Only first year NCAA Division II member Embry-Riddle has won more games (223) over that same span than the Mocs.
* - FSC stands 17th all-time in wins in NCAA Division II with 1,383 wins and is one of 20 D-II programs to  record more than 1,350 all-time victories. In addition, FSC's .638 all-time winning percentage is 18th best in Division II.
* - The Mocs are seeking to win 20 or more games for the ninth consecutive season in 2015-16. FSC is one of just two Division II schools (West Liberty is the other) to post 20-win campaigns the past eight seasons.
* - FSC has won an SSC-best 22 regular season and 23 SSC Tournament titles and has made 29 NCAA Tournament appearances, which is third most in Division II.
* - The Mocs have advanced to the NCAA Tournament the past eight seasons and is one of just two Division II schools to play in the NCAA Tournament the past eight seasons, the other being Seattle Pacific, who earned its 11th consecutive tournament berth in 2014-15. 
* - The Mocs finished 2014-15 ranked No. 1 in the final NABC/Division II Coaches' Poll. The Mocs have been ranked in the Top 10 for 29 of the past 31 regular season polls, including being ranked No. 1 in the final five polls of last season.
* - FSC earned 36 votes in this year's Preseason NABC Coaches' Poll and is third among the 40 schools earning votes in the Preseason poll. It marked just the seventh time since the NABC began a preseason poll in 1996 that the Mocs have not been preseason ranked and the second straight season that the defending Division II national champion wasn't preseason ranked. 

REIGNING NATIONAL CHAMPION MOCS RETURN HOME SATURDAY TO HOST SAINT LEO
The reigning NCAA Division II National Champion Florida Southern Moccasins (8-12 overall, 4-6 SSC) is looking to put the brakes on a three-game losing skid on Saturday, Jan. 30 as they return home to Jenkins Field House (2,500) for a 7:30 p.m. Sunshine State Conference tilt against Saint Leo (13-7 overall, 6-4 SSC). Saturday's game will mark the 11th conference game of the season for the Mocs and its 10th home game of the season and its sixth home game in league play. The game is the second of a doubleheader at Jenkins Field House as the 24th-ranked Moccasin women (16-3 overall, 7-3 SSC) host the Saint Leo women (4-15 overall, 1-9 SSC) at 5:30 p.m.

FSC is playing its eighth game of the New Year and its fourth home game in 2016 as the Mocs are 5-4 at home this season, including being 2-3 at home in SSC play. The Mocs have lost five of its last six games with the only victory being an 84-79 win at Nova Southeastern on ESPN3 on Jan. 16. The win at Nova Southeastern not only snapped a two-game losing skid for the Mocs, it also snapped a four game road losing skid for the Mocs since picking up an 88-80 overtime win at USC Aiken.

After opening the season by losing its first two games, the Mocs reeled off four consecutive victories, including opening SSC play with back-to-back victories over Barry (74-72) and Lynn (98-91). Following the four-game winning streak, FSC lost four straight games. Since that four game losing skid, the Mocs have won just four of its last 10 games with the losses being a 94-84 home loss to Mount Olive on Dec. 19, a 112-91 setback at Embry-Riddle, an 84-70 loss at home to then 12th-ranked Eckerd on Jan. 9, an 89-72 setback at Rollins last Wednesday, a 100-89 home loss last Saturday to Lynn and a 101-63 setback in its last action on Wednesday at 24th-ranked Barry. 

MOCS LOOK TO SNAP THREE-GAME LOSING SKID
The Mocs come into Saturday's third game of the second half of SSC play looking to snap a three-game losing skid since picking up a win at Nova Southeastern nearly two weeks ago. The 4-6 start in league play is the worst 10 game start for the Mocs since 2-8 in the 2006-07 season, which ironically, was the first season of Linc Darner's tenure as the Mocs coach.  

MOCS LOOK TO CONTINUE MASTERY IN SSC PLAY IN 2015-16 
FSC has been strong in SSC play since the beginning of last season as the Mocs have won 19 of its last 26 league games, including a 17-game win streak in league play before falling at Saint Leo earlier this season. Prior to the Saint Leo loss, the Mocs last loss in SSC play came on Jan. 3, 2015 in its SSC opener against Barry. Since that loss, the Mocs ended the 2014-15 season winning its final 15 SSC games and opened this season by winning four of its first seven league contests.

Since the beginning of the 2010-11 season, the Mocs have posted a 63-26 record in SSC games and have claimed three consecutive SSC regular season titles and four straight SSC Tournament titles. In addition to winning 19 of its last 26 SSC games, the Mocs have also won 10 of its last 13 SSC road games since falling to Tampa (71-69) in its final league road game to close the 2013-14 season with the only road setbacks being its loss earlier this season at Saint Leo, at Rollins last Wednesday and at Barry this past Wednesday.  
  
WILLIAMS JOINS 1,000 POINT CLUB 
Senior guard Dominique Williams  made history in the Mocs game on Jan. 9 against 12th-ranked Eckerd as he scored 17 points to become the 40th all-time member of Florida Southern's 1,000 Point Club. He entered the Eckerd game needing just one point to reach the 1,000 point plateau and he scored that one point he needed on a free throw just 72 seconds into the game.

In his three-plus seasons as a Moccasin, Williams has now scored 1,091 points, including scoring 365 points in 19 games this season and is now 27th on the school's all-time scoring chart. 

Williams, who is the ninth Moccasin to score 1,000 points since the 2006-07 season, is averaging 9.6 points per game as he has shot 369-for-835 from the field (44.2 percent) and is 152-for-375 (40.4 percent) from the 3-point line and has reached double figures in 43 career games, including 18 times this season and has scored 20 or more points in a game 13 times in his career, including scoring 20 or more points in nine games this season. Williams has scored in double figures in 18 consecutive games since being held to five points against Delta State. 

SCOUTING THE MOCCASINS 
Florida Southern enters Saturday's home game with Saint Leo looking to snap a three-game losing skid that has dropped its record to 8-12 overall and 4-6 in the SSC. The three game losing skid came on the heels of an 84-79 win at Nova Southeastern on Jan. 16. Since that win over the Sharks, the Mocs have fallen on the road at both Rollins (89-72) and Barry (101-63) and at home last Saturday to Lynn (100-89). Since the beginning of the 2016 calendar year, the Mocs have posted a 2-5 record with the two victories coming at home against Tampa (93-75) and Nova Southeastern. 

FSC's eight wins in its first 20 games of the season are its fewest since the 2006-07 squad coached by former coach Linc Darner posted a 6-14 record through its first 20 games. FSC's four wins in SSC play have come at home against Barry (74-72) and Tampa and on the road at Lynn (98-91) and Nova Southeastern, with its six SSC losses coming at Saint Leo (91-89), at Rollins (89-72) and at Barry and at home to Florida Tech (99-93), Eckerd (84-70) and Lynn. The SLU and Florida Tech losses were part of a four game losing skid for the Mocs that came on the heels of a four game winning streak for the Mocs.

That four game winning streak came on the heels of FSC dropping back-to-back games at the SSC/GSC Challenge in Livingston, Ala., to open the 2015-16 season. At the SSC/GSC Challenge, the Mocs opened the season with a 90-76 loss to West Alabama, before suffering a 77-63 loss to Delta State. The 63 points scored against Delta State were the fewest in a game since being held to 63 points in a 71-63 loss at Saint Leo on Jan. 9, 2013. In addition, the 0-2 start to the season was the first for the Mocs since the 1978-79 squad coached by Dr. Hal Wissel opened with a 93-91 loss at home to Ursinus College and then followed with a 97-79 defeat at Holy Cross. 

As a team, the Mocs are second in the SSC and 21st nationally in scoring as they are averaging 86.4 points per game and have scored 90 or more points in six of its last 13 games, including topping the century mark in two of its last four victories. Along with averaging 86.4 points per game, the Mocs are shooting 43 percent from the field, 37 percent from the 3-point line and 74 percent from the free throw line. FSC leads the SSC and is fifth nationally in 3-pointers made per game as they are making 11.5 treys per game and have hit 10 or more treys in 11 of its last 12 games, including a school record 23 treys in its 44-point win over Miles and 12 games overall on the season. On defense, the Mocs are allowing a league worst 88.7 points per game and have allowed 11 of its 20 opponents to score 90 or more points, including allowing a season high 112 points to Embry-Riddle. FSC's foes are shooting 47 percent from the floor, 37 percent from the 3-point line and 70 percent from the free throw line and the Mocs have a +0.9 turnover margin and a -2.5 rebound margin.

TRAVIS, WILLIAMS LEADING THE WAY FOR THE MOCS
Leading the way for the Mocs offensively this season are senior guards Dylan Travis (Omaha, Neb.) and Dominique Williams (Haines City, Fla.).

Travis, who has been named a two-time SSC Player of the Week this season as he earned the Defensive Player of the Week accolade on Dec. 21 and was named the Player of the Week on Nov. 23 and was also named the USBWA Division II National Player of the Week on Nov. 24, is second in the league and 23rd nationally in scoring at 21.9 points per game and is fifth in the league in rebounding (8.1 rpg), fourth in assists (4.7 apg) and is second the league in steals (2.0 spg) and is shooting 45 percent from the field, 37 percent from the 3-point line and 83 percent (106-for-128) from the free throw line. Travis has hit 47 of his last 56 free throws (83.9 percent), including going 9-for-9 at the line in his last game against Nova Southeastern and is 17th nationally in made free throws and 27th nationally in free throw attempts. Travis, who was named the Division II Bulletin Player of the Month for November, has scored 20 or more points in 11 of 17 games, including tallying a career high 32 points against Eastern New Mexico and has scored in double figures in 18 straight games, including all 17 games this season and 22 times in his last 23 games overall dating to last season and leads the team in double-doubles with five and recorded the program's first-ever triple-double (11 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) against Miles in the Mocs final game before the holiday break. Travis has missed the last three games due to injury and his status for Saturday's game is unknown.

Williams is seventh in the SSC in scoring as he is averaging 19.2 points per game and is also averaging 3.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game and is shooting 44 percent from the field, 42 percent from the 3-point line, which is sixth in the SSC and is averaging 3.1 made treys per game, which is second in the SSC and has reached double figures in 18 straight games. He has scored 20 or more points in eight of his last 15 games.       

MOCS TIED FOR FOURTH IN D-II IN MADE TREYS, FIFTH IN 3-POINTERS ATTEMPTED
FSC comes into this weekend's action leading the SSC and is fourth in Division II in made three-pointers with 229 and is fifth in Division II in 3-point shot attempts (616). The Mocs 229 made treys is 15 less than the Division II leader Adelphi has hit as they have made 244 treys in 20 games this season. The Mocs are one of 10 D-II teams that have made 200 or more 3-pointers on the year as King (Tenn.) is second with 231 made treys and Minnesota State-Moorhead is third with 222 made treys.

As a team, FSC is averaging 11.5 made treys per game, which is tops in the SSC and is fifth nationally. FSC has hit 10 or more treys in a game 12 times, including 10 times in its last 11 games. While they are averaging 11.5 made treys per game, the Mocs are averaging 30.8 3-point shot attempts per game and have shot 30 or more treys in a game 10 times, including six times in its last eight outings.

FSC-SAINT LEO SERIES 
Saturday's game with Saint Leo will mark the 107th all-time meeting in the series between the two schools as FSC holds an 88-18 edge in the series, but has won just five of the last 11 meetings in the series. The Mocs, who fell 91-89 to the Lions earlier this season at Saint Leo, have won four of the last six games in the series. 

The Mocs hold a 44-6 edge in Lakeland and also holds a 38-10 advantage in Saint Leo, but has dropped three of its last five games in the series on Saint Leo's home court. FSC also leads 6-2 on neutral courts.

SCOUTING SAINT LEO
Saint Leo (13-7 overall, 6-4 SSC) comes into Saturday's game having won two straight games, including posting an 87-84 upset at home on Wednesday over 10th-ranked Eckerd, who entered the game with a perfect 8-0 record in league play. SLU began its current two game win streak with an 80-61 victory last Saturday at Nova Southeastern. Saturday's game will mark just the eighth game away from home this season for the Lions as they are sporting a 2-5 mark away from home, including a 2-3 mark in road SSC games.  

The Lions, who were tabbed to finish eighth in the Preseason SSC Coaches' Poll, return one starter and five lettermen from last season's 14-15 squad. The 14-15 record was the first losing season for the Lions since the 2010-11 season when SLU finished with a 12-16 overall record.

Along with picking up a win over FSC, SLU's five other wins in SSC play have come at home against Rollins (77-75), Nova Southeastern (93-88) and Eckerd (87-84) and on the road at Florida Tech (99-94) and Nova Southeastern.

SLU is coached by Vince Alexander (Oklahoma Baptist, '89), who replaced former coach Lance Randall. Randall, who led the Lions to three NCAA Tournament appearances the past four years, stepped down at the end of the season to accept the head coaching position at Lindenwood. Alexander came to Saint Leo after a successful 10 year run at USC Aiken where he compiled a 196-113 record and led the program to back-to-back Elite Eights in 2013 and 2014. He is in his 17th season as a collegiate head coach and Alexander has compiled a 298-196 overall record and is 13-7 at Saint Leo.

Leading the way for the Lions is junior guard Marcus Dewberry. Dewberry, who is a Lakes Wales native, is averaging 19.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game and is shooting 46 percent from the field, 41 percent from the 3-point line and 87 percent at the free throw line. Dewberry, who is a two-time SSC Player of the Week this season, has reached double figures in 19 of 20 games, including 13 consecutive double figure scoring efforts. 

In addition to Dewberry, the Lions have two other players averaging in double figures on the year - sophomore forward Caleb Stewart and sophomore guard Tyreece Brice.

Stewart, who is a transfer from USC Aiken, has made an immediate impact for the Lions as he is averaging 15.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game and is shooting 43 percent from the field, 35 percent from long distance and 81 percent at the foul line and has reached double figures in 15 games, including a season high 30 points in the Lions win over Rollins. 

Brice, who is another transfer from USC Aiken, is averaging 14.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game and is shooting 53 percent from the field, 39 percent from downtown and has a 1.5 assist/ turnover ratio, which is fifth best in the SSC. 

As a team, Saint Leo is third in the SSC in scoring as they are averaging 84.8 points per game and have scored 80 or more points in three of its last four games and 13 times overall on the season. In addition, the Lions are shooting 46 percent from the field, an SSC-best 39 percent from the 3-point line and 76 percent at the free throw line, which is second in the SSC. SLU is making 10.2 treys per game and is getting outrebounded by nearly six boards per game, but is forcing 15.5 turnovers per game and is averaging 6.7 steals per contest. On defense, SLU is allowing 82.9 points per game and their opponents are shooting 46 percent from the floor and 32 percent from the 3-point line.