For the third consecutive season, No. 19 Florida Southern College men's basketball will play host and open the season Saturday as host of the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic inside the George W. Jenkins Field House. The Moccasins have the toughest scheduled start with the 2023 defending National Champions, No. 1 Minnesota State Mavericks slated for 5:45 p.m. November 2.
"We are excited to start the season," said head coach
Mike Donnelly. "Our guys have been working hard and preparing everyday to build off our success last season. With seven newcomers, this year's team will obviously look a little different, but I have been very pleased with how our guys have connected both on and off the court. We know we will be challenged early to start the season, but we are looking forward to the opporutnity to play two terrific teams this weekend."
There's Still Time for Season Tickets!
There is still time for you to support the Mocs on and off the court by joining the Sixth Man Club. For more information or questions about joining the 6
th Man Club, please contact
Kris Doorey, Director of Athletics Development at
kdoorey@flsouthern.edu or 863-680-4109. [
Download 6th Man Club information here]
Season Opener / Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic
Tournament Central - https://www.fscmocs.com/scb
Ticket Prices: $25 weekend pass, $15 single day (gets you into all five games on either day), Kids 12 & Under FREE
Directions -
https://www.flsouthern.edu/about/maps-directions.aspx
All 10 teams traveling to compete in the 2024 Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic were receiving votes with six inside the top 25, led by No. 1 Minnesota State and No. 2 Nova Southeastern. Joining those two inside the top 10 were No. 7 Gannon, another Elite Eight participant from a season ago, and No. 9 North Georgia. Florida Southern (19) and Fort Lewis (22) round out the teams inside the top 25 with Lake Superior State, St. Thomas Aquinas, Point Loma, and Carson-Newman all receiving votes. The Mavericks had 393 points with 10 first place votes while the Sharks, who received the final six first place votes, finished with 390 points after the two teams squared off in the 2024 National Championship, the game going to MSU on a last minute shot.
Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic Weekend Schedule of Events
Fri., Nov. 1 -
1:30 p.m. - Hall of Fame Inductees Press Conference - Live at Hampton Inn, Live Streamed at
www.fscmocs.com.live
2:30 p.m. - SCB Participating Coaches Press Conference - Live at Hampton Inn, Live Streamed at
www.fscmocs.com.live
7:30 p.m. - Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - Live at the Polk Theater,
FREE ADMISSION
Sat., Nov. 2
11:00 a.m. – (RV) Carson-Newman vs (RV) Lake Superior State
1:15 p.m. - #22 Fort Lewis vs (RV) Point Loma
3:30 p.m. - #2 Nova Southeastern vs #7 Gannon
5:45 p.m. - #19 Florida Southern vs #1 Minnesota State
8:00 p.m. - #9 North Georgia vs (RV) St. Thomas Aquinas
Sun., Nov. 3
11:00 a.m. - #22 Fort Lewis vs (RV) Carson-Newman
1:15 p.m. - (RV) Lake Superior State vs #7 Gannon
3:30 p.m. - #2 Nova Southeastern vs (RV) St. Thomas Aquinas
5:45 p.m. - #19 Florida Southern vs (RV) Point Loma
8:00 p.m. - #1 Minnesota State vs #9 North Georgia
The 2024-25 Squad
The Moccasins welcome seven new student-athletes to the program which features four transfers and three first-year students to join the nine returners for the 2024-25 campaign.
"Our coaching staff worked diligently to identify recruits who we felt would not only help address specific needs but would also bolster our roster and support our returners. We added size, length, and athleticism to our frontcourt and perimeter shooting. I really like the versatility and overall talent level of our recruiting class, and most importantly, we added established winners who I know are excited to compete for a championship this season."
Kristians Feierbergs (Riga, Latvia) - Senior - Forward - 6'8 - 220
Transfer from D1 University of Maine. Averaged 6.2 points per game (ppg), 4.1 rebounds per game (rpg) in 32 games with 11 starts last season. Scored a season-high 16 points (4-5 3FG) vs Albany on 1/25/24. Scored 14 points and grabbed 6 rebounds at Minnesota on 12/29/23. Averaged 8.9 ppg and 5.1 rpg in 2022-2023. Played in 72 career games in three seasons at Maine. Has one year of eligibility remaining.
Peyton Gerald (Charlotte, NC) - Junior - Forward - 6'9 - 205
Transfer from D2 Catawba College. Averaged 9.7 ppg, 4.3 rbg, 1.3 steals per game (spg), and 1.5 blocks per game (bpg) last season. Shot 52.7% from the field and 70% from the free throw line. Helped lead the team to a 23-6 record and a SAC Tournament Championship in 2023-2024. Named the 2024 MVP of the SAC Tournament. Scored 656 points and pulled down over 336 rebounds with 97 blocks in three seasons at Catawba. Has one year of eligibility remaining.
Amare Miller (White Plains, NY) - Junior - Forward - 6'7 - 225
Transfer from D2 UNC-Pembroke. Averaged 5.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg and shot 62.6% from the field last season. Scored a season-high 24 points (12-13 FG) and pulled down 14 rebounds vs. Emporia State on 11/4/23. Played a productive role on two NCAA Tournament teams with an overall record of 49-11 the last two years. Has two years of eligibility remaining.
Hugo Mattioli (Charleroi, Belgium) - Junior - Guard - 6'2 - 180
Transfer from D1 Juco Panola College. Played a pivotal role on the 27-7 team that advanced to the National Tournament. Played well during the National Tournament, averaging 9.5 ppg and shooting 41.6% from 3-point territory. Averaged 5.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg, and 1.0 spg last season. Connected on 38 3-point field goals and shot 80.0% from the free throw Line. Scored a season-high 16 points vs. Bishop State and made 4 or more 3-point field goals six times. Has two years of eligibility.
Ameer Ramadan (Orlando, FL) - Freshman - Guard - 6'0 - 170
Team captain at Orlando Christian Prep HS. Averaged 14.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.1 assists per game (apg), and 1.2 spg his senior season at OCP. Led team to a 25-5 record and Class 2A State Championship runner-up. Source Hoops Florida 2A Player of the Year. Named to Florida Dairy Farmers All-Area First Team. Scored over 1,000 career points. Honor Roll student.
Raphael Tawil (Far Rockaway, NY) - Freshman - Guard - 6'4 - 170
Spent this past year at St. Andrew's School in Barrington, RI as a post-graduate student. Played in the extremely competitive NEPSAC AA Division. Averaged 16.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg, and 2.6 apg in 30 games. Made 77 3-point field goals and shot 45.3% from beyond the arc. Led his HS team to a PSAL city championship during his senior year at Scholars Academy in NY. High academic student.
Luke McGinnis (Riverton, NJ) - Redshirt Freshman - 6'3 - 175
Averaged 15.0ppg, 6.0rbg, 2.0apg as a senior at Holy Cross Prep High School in New Jersey this past year. Will sit out as a redshirt during the 2024-2025 season.
2024-25 NABC Preseason Coaches' Poll – 19 Florida Southern
After posting a 19-9 record last season and a trip to the Sunshine State Conference tournament, Florida Southern opens the year receiving votes (RV) in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Coaches Preseason Poll with 20 votes. The Moccasins will look to make a statement in the opening weekend facing off against Virginia Union (40) who also received votes in the national poll.
The Mocs are slated to face seven teams that enter the year that received at least seven votes in the poll, including two matchups against 2022-23 defending NCAA National Champions Nova Southeastern, which the Sharks see themselves ranked No. 2 in the poll entering the 2023-24 year after losing six of their key players to the transfer portal.
2024-25 SSC Preseason Coaches' Poll – 2 Florida Southern 93 points (3 FPV)
After finishing last season as a participant in the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen, Florida Southern men's basketball was picked to finish the 2024-25 season second in the Sunshine State Conference announced by the league Wednesday, Oct. 23.
The Moccasins finished second a year ago in the league standings with a 15-5 record, second to the Nova Southeastern Sharks. Florida Southern looks to reclaim that top spot, sitting in the preseason coaches' poll behind none-other than the Sharks. Nova Southeastern was tabbed first with 98 total points and eight first place votes while Florida Southern was second with 93 total points and three first place votes.
"I have been very pleased with the progress of our team, and we certainly have high expectations this season," said head basketball coach
Mike Donnelly. "I feel like the league as whole is extremely talented this year. The conference is filled with great programs and coaches. I know we are going to have to be ready to play at a very high level every night in the SSC."
The Moccasins finished the 2023-24 campaign in the SSC semifinals and with a 23-10 overall record behind
Luke Anderson's run to being named an All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). The reigning SSC Coach of the Year,
Mike Donnelly, returned the SSC Defensive Player of the Year, Second Team All-League, and All-Defensive selection
Alex Steen for his third season.
The 2024-25 Schedule
Florida Southern is scheduled to play 30 games over the season with 18 homes games inside the George W. Jenkins Field House. The Moccasins host four tournaments at home with the Small College Basketball Nov. 2-3, the Conference Cross Over Nov. 8-9, the annual Thanksgiving Classic Nov. 29-30, and the Century Retail Christmas Classic Dec. 21-22.
"We are excited to play a 30-game schedule this year, including 18 games at home," said head coach
Mike Donnelly on the 2024-25 season. "We know we will be challenged in both our non-conference and conference schedule. Our league will once again be extremely competitive and a great test of our guys this season."
2024-25 Florida Southern Men's Basketball Home Schedule
Nov. 3 –
SCB Hall of Fame Classic – Minnesota State, 5:45 PM
Nov. 4 -
SCB Hall of Fame Classic – Point Loma, 5:45 PM
Nov. 8 - Auburn Montgomery, 3:30 PM
Nov. 9 - Savannah State, 7:30 PM
Nov. 13 – Eckerd, 7:30 PM*
Nov. 23 - Palm Beach Atlantic, 6:00 PM*
Nov. 29 –
Mocs Thanksgiving Classic - Clark Atlanta, 7:30 PM
Nov. 30 –
Mocs Thanksgiving Classic - Morehouse, 7:30 PM
Dec. 7 - Florida Tech, 6:00 PM*
Dec. 21 –
Century Retail Christmas Classic - Lander, 7:30 PM
Dec. 22 -
Century Retail Christmas Classic - New Haven, 7:30 PM
Jan. 8 - Embry-Riddle, 7:30 PM*
Jan. 11 - Barry, 6:00 PM*
Jan. 22 – Rollins, 7:30 PM*
Jan. 29 – Tampa, 7:30 PM*
Feb. 8 – Lynn, 6:00 PM*
Feb. 19 - Nova Southeastern, 7:30 PM*
Feb. 22 - Saint Leo, 6:00 PM*
* Sunshine State Conference
