#19 Mocs Escape Tigers Second Half Rally

LAKELAND, Fla. – No. 19 Florida Southern College men's basketball escaped a Savannah State second half rally to earn a 97-94 win Saturday night at the Streamline Sale Court inside the George W. Jenkins Field House.

"Credit Savannah State," Head Coach Mike Donnelly commented. "They played really hard, played with confidence and battled all night. We were very fortunate to hang on and win that game. I have higher expectations for our group. We need to play better."
 
No. 19 Florida Southern (3-1) saw Alex Steen tally a career-high 29 points on 11-for-19 shooting from the floor and a 7-for-10 mark from the free throw line. The junior from Panama City Beach, Fla. registered his 19^th career double-double with 11 rebounds while adding four blocks and one assist in his 30 minutes.
 
Jadin Booth and Peyton Gerald each chipped in 17 points while Dominick Denny and Ameer Ramadan tallied eight ahead of Joe Moon IV's seven. Kristians Feierbergs, Donovan Smith, Hugo Mattioli and Amare Miller all contributed points as all 10 players scored in the win. Feierbergs, Smith and Mattioli all scored three points as Miller went for two.
 
Savannah State (0-2) was led by Ayjay Plain and Javonte Lundy as both players notched 20-plus points with Plain for 26 and Lundy 23. Jeremiah Barze was one off with 19 as Qua King finished with 11. Jerry Maxinaud hauled in a game high 12 rebounds as the Tigers won the battle on the glass 40-to-32.
 
Both teams would battle tightly for the first five minutes where the Moccasins claimed their largest lead at the time of five points before extending it to nine points at the 12:16 mark, 24-15.
 
The Tigers closed the gap to just three, 26-23, but Florida Southern exploded and pushed it back to double-digits, and moved to a 25-point spread, 56-31, on a Peyton Gerald layup with 1:47 to go. Despite Savannah State closing the half scoring the final six points, the Mocs went into the break leading 56-37.
 
Florida Southern looked to have been cruising to the finish leading by double-digits over the first 10 minutes of the half, 76-65, but the halftime adjustments by Savannah State saw the lead start to dwindle. The Tigers cut it to single-digits, 76-68, with 9:40 to play before getting to within one possession 79-76 with 7:23 to go.
 
Savannah State would eventually claw its way back and claim a lead with under five minutes to go, 84-83. Alex Steen hit back to back free throws to push the Mocs back in front and a steal by Jadin Booth with 4:24 saw him head to the free throw line after getting fouled.
 
Booth sank both free throws (87-84 FSC), but the Tigers would not stay down converting a jumper to get within one. On the next possession, Steen grabbed an offensive board and tipped it in before another pair of Booth free throws and Steen's jumper made it a five point spread, 93-88 (1:41).
 
Savannah State kept within striking distance, answering Florida Southern's production on the offensive side and sat within one following a Jeremiah Barze layup with 24 ticks left (95-94). Jadin Booth would make it difficult on the Tigers after converting another pair of free throws for a 97-94 lead with just 15 seconds left.
 
On the next possession, Steen would block a layup by Ayjay Plain with eight seconds left but the rebound fell to the Tigers as a last second three bounced off and Steen grabbed it to seal the win. Savannah State erased a halftime deficit and posted a 57-41 second half advantage to make it an interesting final of the cross over.
 
No. 19 Florida Southern (3-1) will remain at home and host Eckerd (1-1) Wednesday, Nov. 13 to start Sunshine State Conference play inside the George W. Jenkins Field House.
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