Mocs Beat Eagles for Fifth Straight Win

LAKELAND, Fla. – After a week off, Florida Southern College men's basketball defeated Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 98-75, at Streamline Sale Court inside the George W. Jenkins Field House for the fifth straight win.

"We were clicking on all cylinders tonight," Head Coach Mike Donnelly stated. "Really great effort at both ends of the floor. I thought we competed hard and played great team basketball. We continue to get better which is what you want this time of year." 
 
The Moccasins (18-7, 12-6 SSC) used a monstrous first half, outscoring the Eagles (17-8, 10-8 SSC) 59-34 to get an advantage heading into the final 30 minutes. The win evens the season series between the two programs, each winning on their respective home courts. 
 
Redshirt sophomore Jadin Booth turned in another huge performance going for 35 points on 11-of-20 shooting with a 7-for-12 mark from beyond the arc while adding another 100-percent shooting from the free throw line (6-for-6). The Omaha, Neb. native added five rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal to his nightly stat sheet.
 
Redshirt senior E.J. Dambreville registered yet another double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds while redshirt sophomore Luke Anderson added 12 points for the Mocs. Redshirt sophomore Wes Bongiorni added nine points on the night, including a 1-for-1 night from beyond the arc, as redshirt sophomore Trey Jones and junior Connor Raines each scored eight points.
 
As a team, Florida Southern finished the night on 50 percent shooting from the floor (38-76) and 42.3 percent from beyond the arc (11-26) while missing just four free throws for a 73.3 percent night from the stripe (11-15). The Mocs won the rebounding belt 48-to-38 while finishing the night with 20 assists. Florida Southern took care of the ball committing just nine turnovers, the team's fourth straight game with less than 10.
 
The Eagles were led by Michael McCalister who scored a team-high 20 points and Chris Murray finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Embry-Riddle started the game out in front, running out to an eight-point advantage, 15-7, before Florida Southern tightened it up and tied things with a Connor Raines three, 20-20. ERAU again would build a lead, but a pair of free throws from Jadin Booth brought it back to within one, 25-24 with 9:06 to play. Florida Southern would then erupt, outscoring Embry-Riddle 35-9 in the final nine minutes of action heading into halftime with a 51-39 lead.
 
Florida Southern continued to push and would carry a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game, including its largest lead of the game of 33 points at the 7:35 mark on a Booth layup.
 
The Moccasins will return to the hardwood on Wednesday in Saint Leo, Fla. against the Lions (11-7 SSC) of Saint Leo University with a scheduled 7:30 p.m. tip.
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