#19 Mocs Complete Epic Comeback in Overtime Thriller Over Spartans

LAKELAND, Fla. – The No. 19 Florida Southern College men's basketball team staged an epic second-half comeback and overtime dominance in a 129-125 win over the University of Tampa Spartans on Wednesday night inside George W. Jenkins Field House.
 
The Moccasins (18-4, 9-3 SSC) were down by 17 points in the first half but emerged in the second half to tie the game and control overtime in the crucial overtime win. The Spartans (14-6, 6-6 SSC) struggled to tame FSC from a comeback, elevated by a boisterous Moccasin crowd inside Jenkins Field House.
 
We were severely outplayed in the first half, but I am really proud of how our guys responded to pull out a thrilling win tonight," said head coach Mike Donnelly. "We have been in a lot of close games, but tonight was the first time we had to dig ourselves out of a significant hole. Tampa is a very good team. We had a great crowd and the atmosphere was awesome, especially down the stretch. Huge win."
 
Five Moccasins finished with double-digit scoring, led by Jadin Booth with 34 points. Booth had a career-high 14 assists to complete the double-double. Dominick Denny had a stellar night with 24 points and seven assists, as Peyton Gerald had 22 points and five rebounds. Other double-digit scorers included Joe Moon IV (19p) and Alex Steen (17p). Steen and Booth had eight boards each to lead the team as Denny and Gerald matched with four steals each.
 
Despite losing the rebound battle 48-38, Florida Southern tied the Sunshine State Conference high of 12 blocks, one more than Florida Southern's previous best, which was also against the Spartans back on Dec. 3, 2024, in Tampa. The Mocs shot 59 percent from the field to Tampa's 47 percent, with both teams over 10+ three-pointers. FSC had a near-perfect 26-for-27 shooting from free throw, though turnovers nearly cost the Mocs the game with 20 total turnovers, 12 from the first half that contributed to the Tampa lead.
 
Tampa was led in scoring by Tyson Leitao and Ryan Blount, who finished with 29 points. Leitao had a double-double with 13 boards, including six offensive rebounds. Bryan Williams (21p), Trey Lane (15p), and Kaden Froebe (13p) also finished in double-digits, with Froebe and Lane leading the team in assists (six).  
 
The University of Tampa had the first points of the game, keeping a slight edge in the opening minutes of the half. The Mocs had a big dunk by Gerald and a fastbreak three-pointer by Moon to send FSC into the first media down 13-9. Costly turnovers by the Mocs led to a large deficit for most of the half, down by as much as 17 points in the final minutes. A three by Tampa with seven seconds then left sent the teams into halftime with a 63-47 UTampa advantage.  
 
Florida Southern opened the second half by cutting into the 16-point deficit with an 11-0 run in the first four minutes, only be down by three points, 70-67. Both teams battled over the next several minutes, trading scores with a slight edge to Tampa, who led 89-84 at the 8-minute mark. Despite great shooting by the Mocs, the Spartans maintained a slight lead at the final media timeout, 106-98. Florida Southern surged in the final minutes to get within two after a corner three by Denny with 30 seconds left, 113-111. Moon then made both of his free throws to tie the game with four seconds left, sending the game into overtime 115-115.
 
The Mocs had a great start in overtime, taking the lead for the first time in the game, and keeping that lead for the first few minutes. Tampa tied the game with 1:30 left, 122-122, but Moon responded with a big three that helped lift the Mocs to a 129-125 victory.
 
The Mocs will have the weekend off before facing Eckerd College on Wednesday, Feb. 5, set for a 7:30 p.m. start at the McArthur Center in St. Petersburg.  
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