Box Score LAKELAND, FL - Michael Volovic poured in 22 points and three other players scored in double-digits as Florida Southern College men's basketball grabbed a 97-87 win over Saint Leo on Wednesday in the 2016-17 Sunshine State Conference opener. The Moccasins (1-2, 1-0 SSC) scored 17 points over the final 2:38 of regulation to close out the Lions (0-3, 0-1).
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Florida Southern raced on to an early 10-4 lead, but the Lions mounted a 7-0 run to jump out in front. The teams would trade jabs throughout the opening 10 minutes, but the Mocs used a 6-0 run with just over nine minutes to go to turn a one-point deficit (23-22) into a five-point lead (28-23).
• Saint Leo was able to reclaim the lead at 37-33 with 3:53 on the clock, but the Moccasins closed out the first half on a 13-4 run to take a 46-41 lead into halftime.
• Down six points (48-42) early in the second half, the Lions were able to chip away at the deficit and eventually found themselves up 62-61 with just under 12 minutes to play. Florida Southern was able to jump back in front by four points (80-76) on Brett Hanson's three-pointer with 3:36 to play, but Saint Leo responded with a three of its own to cut the deficit to one.
• Florida Southern would explode offensively over the final three minutes of the game, scoring 17 points over the last 2:38 of regulation. Andre Elam put an exclamation point on the game with two thunderous dunks in the final 30 seconds, and Jeremiah Davis hit a last second layup to give the Mocs the 10-point win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
• Florida Southern improved to 883-326 all-time at Jenkins Field House, including 50-8 when facing Saint Leo at home. The Mocs moved to 88-19 all-time against the Lions.
• Michael Volovic scored 22 points on 7-of-10 from the floor, and went an incredible 6-of-8 from beyond the arc. Jeremiah Davis scored 20 points on 8-of-14 from the floor and dished out six assists. Brett Hanson poured in 20 points on 9-of-18 and grabbed nine rebounds, whileLaBrian Shiflet added 15 off the bench.
• The Mocs shot 51.4 percent (38-of-74) from the floor, including 10-of-21 from long range. Florida Southern forced 19 turnovers and converted the opportunities into 36 points. The Moccasins outscored the Lions 14-4 on the fast break, while Saint Leo held a slim 60-58 edge in points in the paint.
UP NEXT
• Florida Southern will head to Evansville, IN for two games at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic over the weekend. The Mocs will face Southern Indiana at 9:30 p.m. on Friday, and will take on No. 3 Bellarmine at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
• The game against Bellarmine will be shown on ESPN3, and can also be accessed via WatchESPN and the ESPN mobile app. Former Moccasin great John Ebeling will be inducted into the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame on Thursday evening as part of the inaugural class.
