Box Score LAKELAND, FL - Jeremiah Davis, Jack Rauch and Michael Volovic each scored 21 points and Florida Southern College men's basketball shot lights out in the second half to earn a 96-64 win over USC Aiken on Saturday at Jenkins Field House. The Moccasins (2-5) shot 66.7 percent (22-of-33) over the final 20 minutes and outscored the Pacers (3-1) 58-48 in the second half.
Rauch was one of two Mocs to record a double-double as he also pulled down 10 rebounds. Tyler Ross notched a double-double of his own with 10 points and 11 boards.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• USC Aiken jumped out to an early 4-0 lead as Florida Southern was unable to connect on its first six shots. Rauch got the Moccasins on the board with a jumper at the 16:41 mark, but the Pacers were able to build a nine-point lead (15-6) with just over 13 minutes left in the first half.
• The Mocs were able to mount a 9-2 run to pull within two points (17-15) with 9:11 to go. However, the Pacers would extend their lead to as many as 10 points (32-22) with just under five minutes to play. That's when Florida Southern turned it on and closed out the half on a 16-4 run and took a 38-36 lead into the half.
• Florida Southern would see its lead swell to eight points (44-36) early in the second half, but the lead would melt away as USC Aiken took a five-point lead (57-52) with 12:41 remaining in the contest.
• The Mocs eventually battled back to take a six-point lead (69-63) with just under eight minutes to go, but the Pacers fought back to cut the deficit to one (69-68) before Florida Southern reeled off a 13-4 run to grab a commanding 10-point lead (82-72) on Michael Volovic's three with 3:35 left. The Moccasins were clutch at the free-throw line down the stretch, converting 5-of-6 free-throw attempts in the final minute en route to the win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
• Florida Southern improved to 4-1 all-time against USC Aiken, including 2-1 at home. The Moccasins also moved to 884-326 all-time at home, including 695-183 at Jenkins Field House, which opened in December of 1965.
• Jeremiah Davis, Jack Rauch and Michael Volovic combined for 63 of the team's 96 points. Each player scored 21 points and the trio combined to go 22-of-36 (61.1 percent) from the floor and 16-of-19 (84.2 percent) from the free-throw line. Davis and Volovic finished tied with a game-high five assists each, while Rauch added four assists and 10 rebounds. Davis narrowly missed a double-double with eight rebounds.
• Tyler Ross scored 10 points and ripped down 11 boards in 25 minutes off the bench, while Jarel Spellman added nine points and eight rebounds in 17 minutes.
• The Mocs finished with a 48-42 edge in points in the paint, and scored 24 points off 14 USC Aiken turnovers. Florida Southern finished with a 46-35 edge in rebounds, and each team tallied four blocks.
UP NEXT
• Florida Southern returns to action tomorrow at 1 p.m. against Molloy. The game is the second game of a seven-game homestand.
• The Moccasins return to Sunshien State Conference play on Saturday, Dec. 3 against Palm Beach Atlantic. The game will be played at 4 p.m. in Lakeland. It was originally slated to be played at PBA, but the Sailfish will host the NCAA Volleyball South Regional over the weekend. The Mocs will play at PBA on Feb. 4.
