Box Score LAKELAND, Fla. – In a game that played out like a pair of heavyweights going toe-to-toe, the top-seeded Florida Southern College (28-2) men's basketball team edged #5 Embry-Riddle (20-10), 80-77, in the Semifinals of the Sunshine State Conference Men's Basketball Championship presented by Jimmy John's.
Florida Southern will now host #2 Nova Southeastern in the Championship Game on Sunday, March 8, at 1:00 p.m. Nova Southeastern defeated Palm Beach Atlantic tonight, 93-78, in the second Semifinal.
HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Half
- The Mocs got off to a strong start, winning the opening tip for a three-pointer by senior guard Jair Rodgers just ten seconds in.
- Minutes later the Mocs would take a three-point lead, 8-5, on a triple from senior guard Brett Hanson at the 17:09 mark.
- Shortly thereafter, the Eagles would use a 9-2 run to take a 16-12 lead at 12:27.
- The Mocs would counter with baskets by senior Jack Rauch, junior forward Jalyn Hinton, and a Hinton free throw, and suddenly the Mocs were back on a roll, trailing only by one at 19-18, with 9:33 to play.
- Embry-Riddle continued to dominate in the paint, both with offensive rebounds and strong defense. Soon the Eagles led by as many as 12 points, 38-26, with 3:25 remaining in the half.
- Hanson would steal the ball and convert a fast break layup with 1:39 to go, trimming the lead to eight, 40-32.
- But an ERAU layup would be the last points of the half, with the visitors leading, 42-32 at the break.
- In the first half, ERAU had 26 rebounds, including eight on the offensive glass.
- Hanson had 11 points in the first half to lead the Mocs, making five of his 11 shots from the floor.
2nd Half
- The Eagles opened the second half by extending their lead to 12 points, 46-34, just over a minute in.
- Undeterred, the Mocs went on a 7-0 run over the next four and a half minutes to get back to within striking distance, 46-41.
- Moments later, junior guard Brandon Carroll turned defense into offense, with a steal and fast break layup, and the score was 48-45, with the Mocs down three.
- Minutes later, Carroll was at it again. This time, he grabbed a defensive rebound and went the length of the floor for a fast break jumper, and the lead was down to just one, 51-50, with 11:18 remaining.
- The Mocs would finally take the lead, 62-61, at the 7:46 mark, on made free throws by Hanson.
- Southern finally found traction in the paint, and started to roll. Hanson attacked he rim and made a layup at 5:05 to put the Mocs up, 69-66. After an Eagle basket, Carroll made a three pointer, and the Mocs were now up four, 72-68, with 4:31 remaining.
- Moments later, ERAU trimmed the lead down to just 1, 75-74, with 2:26 remaining in regulation.
- With the lead, the Mocs had opportunities to salt the game away, but could not convert free throws. However, Southern would build a 78-74 lead with 37 ticks remaining, on a Hanson fast break layup. The Eagles would hit a quick three pointer, and the Mocs led by just one point with 30 seconds remaining, 78-77, prompting a Southern timeout.
- On the ensuing inbounds play, Rauch inbounded the ball from underneath his own basket, and hit a streaking Hanson for a quick layup, and the eventual 80-77 final score.
- Embry-Riddle had chances in the final seconds, missing a layup with 14 seconds left. FSC's sophomore guard E.J. Dambreville went up and grabbed the defensive rebounds, and the potential crisis was averted.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Hanson was the only Moc to score in double figures, with a game-high 32 points, He made 13 of his 22 shots from the field, including 5-of-8 from three.
- This was the fifth time this season Hanson has scored at least 30 points, and the second consecutive time. He has now scored 2,212 points for his career.
- Southern shot 47.5% from the field (29-61), while ERAU shot 41.1% (30-73).
- Embry-Riddle out-rebounded Southern, 48-34. The Eagles grabbed 15 offensive rebounds in the game.
- Southern out-scored ERAU in the paint, 40-34
- The real advantage for the Mocs was in fast break points, leading 24-8.
UP NEXT
Florida Southern will now host #2 Nova Southeastern in the Championship Game of the Sunshine State Conference Men's Basketball Championship presented by Jimmy John's, on Sunday, March 8, at 1:00 p.m. Nova Southeastern defeated Palm Beach Atlantic tonight, 93-78, in the second Semifinal.
The winner of that game will earn the Sunshine State Conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA will announce the tournament field on Sunday night at 10:30 p.m.
NCAA Regionals will begin on Saturday, March 14, with four games being played, beginning at 12 noon. The Second Round of the Regionals will be on Sunday March 15, with two games, slated for 5:00 and 7:30 p.m. The Regional Championship game will take place on Tuesday, March 17, at 7:00 p.m.
