LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Southern College men's basketball team win 83-76 against Palm Beach Atlantic for their first conference win of the season Saturday night at Jenkins Field House.
E.J. Dambreville led the Mocs with a double-double and a season-high 23 points to go with his 14 rebounds. Florida Southern (3-5) had the lead for the last several minutes and fended off the Sailfish (3-5).
"That was a huge win for us; we needed that," said head coach
Mike Donnelly. "The guys were talking in the huddle, and that is something we preach every day. We are still a work in progress…but the guys made big plays in the second half for the win."
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
- Florida Southern found themselves in an early deficit, before Tarik Mckelphin hit a 3-pointer for an 8-3 deficit at 18:09
- Babatunde Ajike hit two points to make the game 11-5, advantage Sailfish
- The Mocs had an 11-0 run with shots by Xavier Rhodes and Ajike and took the lead with 14:13 left
- Palm Beach Atlantic took the lead back at the second media timeout with a 19-16 lead with 11:49 on the clock
- Both teams went on a scoring drought, before Dambreville was able to snatch an offensive rebound and put it back with the Mocs down by one 19-18 with nine minutes left
- The Sailfish went on a short run, but the Mocs were able to get back with a 3-pointer by Jack Casale, who followed up with a layup for a 24-23 slight deficit with 6:32 left
- Mckelphin hit a jumper to tie the game at 29 with just under five minutes left
- The teams traded points, with Casale on a layup with three minutes left in the game and down by two in 33-31 score
- Jadin Booth was fouled and hit both free throws to tie the game at 33 with 2:36 left
- Dambreville nailed a 3-pointer as the Mocs took the lead into the half 36-35
- Florida Southern ended the half shooting 15-for-39 (39 percent)
- Mckelphin led all scorers with 12 points for Florida Southern, while Casale was right behind with nine points
Second Half
- FSC kept the lead with a 3-pointer by Casale and 39-35 lead with 18:51 on the clock
- Rhodes hit a reverse layup for a 41-40 lead after a two minute scoring drought, and hit a tip-in layup shortly after
- The Mocs lost the lead briefly, but a 3-pointer by Booth brought them back into a two point lead with 15:02 on the clock
- Dambreville added a 3-pointer and 51-47 lead for the Mocs with 13:12 left
- The Sailfish tied the game, but Dambreville made both of his free throws for two-point lead
- Both teams traded points, with DeAndre Campbell on a layup with the game tied at 55 with 10:51 left
- Campbell was fouled and hit one of his free throws for a 61-58 lead with 9:33 left
- His fourth 3-pointer of the night, Dambreville kept the Florida Southern lead with 64-62 score with 8:33 on the clock
- After a media timeout, Dambreville continued his hot streak with a jumper and 68-64 Moc lead with under seven minutes to go
- Rhodes came up with a steal and contested layup to continue the Moc lead
- A close game with under five minutes left, Mckelphin hit his 3-pointer and Campbell made his free throws with the Mocs up 76-71
- Raining shots from beyond the arc, Dambreville made his fifth and added a contested layup for an 81-75 lead with 1:40 left on the clock
- Great offensive rebounding by the Mocs kept them with the ball with under a minute left to go, with the Mocs in an 82-76 lead with 39 seconds left
- The Mocs were able to remain consistent at the line and come out with the win
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Dambreville finished with yet another double-double (23 points, 14 rebounds)
- Florida Southern dominated the glass as they outrebounded Palm Beach Atlantic 40-28.
- The Mocs ended up shooting 45.6 percent from the field (31-for-68) and connected on 11 total 3-pointers.
- Four Mocs had double digit points with Dambreville leading the pack with 23, Mckelphin and Rhodes each had 16 points, and Casale with 13 points.
UP NEXT
Florida Southern will travel to face Lynn University next Saturday, December 11
th, set for a 4:00 PM tip off.
