LAKELAND, Fla. – The No. 12 Florida Southern College men's basketball team landed another big-time conference win after beating Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 103-80 on Wednesday night inside George W. Jenkins Field House.
The Moccasins (14-2, 5-1 SSC) had one of their most efficient games of the season in a dominating Sunshine State Conference matchup and ninth-straight win. The Eagles (10-4, 4-2 SSC) struggled to land points in just their second conference loss of the season.
We had solid production and contributions from numerous guys tonight," said head coach
Mike Donnelly. "Embry-Riddle is a physical team and they hurt us on the glass in the first half. However, I thought we did a much better job overall defensively in the second half which allowed us to get out in transition and convert at the offensive end."
Alex Steen led the Mocs and recorded his seventh double-double of the season, 23
rd of his career, after a 25-point and 14-rebound night.
Jadin Booth had 21 points and shot a perfect 8-for-8 at the line as
Peyton Gerald (18p) and
Dominick Denny (14p) were the remaining Moccasins in double-digits. Denny led the team in assists with five and added two steals, along with Gerald and Steen. Nearly everyone on the roster got involved in the game, including a big three by
Luke Reilly for his first points of the season in the game's final minutes.
Florida Southern had a very efficient day on the board, shooting 54 percent from the field with 9-of-15 from beyond the arc. FSC added a great passing game with 23 assists, the most by the team since playing AUM earlier this season when the Mocs had 27. The Eagles shot 44 percent and just 19 percent from three. Though out-rebounded 41-to-37, the Mocs won the turnover battle with just 10 to ERAU's 16. Remaining the nation's leader in blocks per game, FSC had six blocks with nine steals.
Embry-Riddle was led in scoring by Jerry Bracey II with 23 points. Michael McCalister had 13 points and nearly a double-double with nine boards, and Clares Pierre the final Eagle in double digits. The Eagles had 26 points from the bench and 42 in the paint as the team struggled overall from beyond the arc with just four made three-pointers.
Florida Southern started the game with seven unanswered points, led by Gerald. The Eagles eventually scored and rallied to tie the game at the 15-minute mark, 13-13. FSC controlled the court for the rest of the first half and led by as much as 13. After some foul trouble, the Mocs spread the points between Booth and Steen and went into halftime with a 52-42 lead.
The Mocs opened the second half by adding to their lead, 60-45, in the first four minutes. The Eagles responded with a hot streak to break within nine points with 11 minutes left. The streak was short-lived as FSC climbed to a 19-point lead at the third media timeout, 80-61, including an 8-0 run. The lead continued in the Mocs' favor by a large margin for the remainder of the game, with late shots by Denny,
Joe Moon IV, and a second-chance three by Reilly to seal the win, 103-80 over the Eagles.
The Mocs will remain at home to face Barry University on Saturday, Jan. 11, set for a 6 p.m. start inside Jenkins Field House.
