Box Score ST. PETERSBURG, FL - LaBrian Shiflet scored 20 points to lead four players in double figures, but Florida Southern College men's basketball could not find a way to slip past West Alabama in a 74-69 loss on Saturday at the McArthur Center. The Moccasins (0-2) fell prey to a cold-shooting second half as the Tigers (1-1) scored 46 second-half points en route to the win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Florida Southern found itself down by five points (11-6) early in the first half, but was able to steady the ship and eventually took the lead on a pair of free throws from Jeremiah Davis with 5:01 on the clock to go up, 25-24.
• The Mocs were able to increase their lead before the half with a 9-4 run to take a 34-28 lead into the locker room. Florida Southern held West Alabama to just 31.3 percent (10-of-32) from the floor in the first half. The Moccasins shot 42.9 percent (12-of-28) in the first half, including 5-of-9 from beyond the arc.
• Florida Southern went cold in the second half, connecting on just 32.4 percent (12-of-37) of its shots. The Mocs made six threes in the second half, but went just 5-of-11 from the free-throw line.
• The Mocs were able to build an 11-point lead (42-31) in the first two minutes of the second half and led by 10 points (52-42) with 12:02 to play. However, Florida Southern would go cold and the Tigers took advantage by ripping off a 14-3 run to take a 56-55 lead with 6:55 to play.
• West Alabama would never relinquish its lead as it pushed the advantage to 10 points on two occasions in the final four minutes. Florida Southern was able to cut the deficit to four points (73-69) with nine seconds to go, but the Tigers hung on for the win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
• Florida Southern fell to 2-2 all-time against West Alabama. The Tigers have won two-straight in the series, and the teams have played each of the past three seasons.
• Jarel Spellman fell just shy of a triple-double with 13 points, 13 rebounds and seven blocks. Spellman is one of two players in Florida Southern history with a triple-double, which he recorded last year against Palm Beach Atlantic (2/3/16). He has nine blocks this season and 99 blocks in his career, good for ninth in school history.
• LaBrian Shiflet poured in 20 points on 6-of-17 from the floor, including 4-of-9 from long range. Brett Hanson finished with 13 points and dished out five assists, while Jeremiah Davis scored 11 and tallied four assists.
• The Mocs were outscored 24-10 in the paint and 16-7 in points off turnovers. Florida Southern did finish with a 13-7 edge in second-chance points, but lost the rebounding battle by a 40-26 margin.
UP NEXT
• Florida Southern opens Sunshine State Conference play against Saint Leo on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m. before heading to Evansville, IN for the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic over the weekend. The Mocs will face Southern Indiana on Nov. 18, before squaring off with Bellarmine on Nov. 19.
