LAKELAND, Fla. – No. 12 Florida Southern fell 79-77 on a last-second shot to Palm Beach Atlantic at Streamline Sale Court inside the George W. Jenkins Field House Saturday evening.
The Moccasins (5-2, 1-1 SSC) headed to the free throw line all tied up at 77 and saw a pair of shots rim out as the Sailfish (5-0, 2-0 SSC) controlled the ball with the final 29 seconds of the game. PBA took a jumper that got tipped around and eventually fell to the hands of Jamaal Walker who spun it up and in as the horn sounded for the 79-77 final.
"Palm Beach Atlantic made one more scramble play at the end which cost us the game," said head coach
Mike Donnelly on the loss. "We will regroup and use this awful feeling we have right now to improve in all areas at both ends of the floor."
Florida Southern's
Alex Steen and
Jadin Booth scored over 20 points with Steen leading the way with 22 and Booth at 20 even. The duo hauled in eight boards apiece to lead the rebounding efforts.
Dominick Denny chipped in 11 points while
Hugo Mattioli added nine.
Five players for Palm Beach Atlantic scored in double-figures led by Josh Ward with 16 points followed by Jamaal Walker with 15, Alvin Tumblin and Jakob Hester at 12, and Broderick Ellis, 10, closed the book on double-digit scorers.
The first half of the game saw PBA control most of the pace as FSC rallied to get within one at the break off a
Jadin Booth three-pointer, 35-34. The Mocs opened the second half outscoring the Sailfish 10-2 to claim an early seven-point lead in the half, but Palm Beach Atlantic fought back and made it a four-point game with three minutes to play.
Back-to-back buckets by
Alex Steen with 1:18 and 0:50 seconds on the clock tied the game at 77, before falling at the last second 79-77.
No. 12 Florida Southern is back in action on Friday, Nov. 29 against Clark Atlanta in game two of the Century Retail Thanksgiving Classic at 7:30 p.m. before taking on Morehouse on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m. in the final game of the classic. Saint Leo will take on Morehouse on Friday at 5 p.m. before facing off with Clark Atlanta on Saturday 5 p.m.
