LAKELAND, Fla. - No. 18 Florida Southern College men's basketball (5-1, 0-0 Sunshine State) triumphed over Winona State University (1-4, 0-1 NSIC) with an 88-77 victory on Friday night's Century Retail Thanksgiving Classic matchup. The Moccasins capitalized on turnovers, scoring 23 points off the Warriors' 19 turnovers.
"Tonight wasn't easy. Winona State shot the ball well and made it difficult for us," said Moccasins' head coach
Mike Donnelly. "After getting off to a slow start, I thought we did a good job executing at both ends of the floor to grind out a good win. The best thing about tonight was that we responded after falling behind by double digits early. That's a really good sign. Now, we have a quick turnaround to prepare for a talented Bemidji State squad."
Florida Southern College initiated the game with strong offensive momentum, opening with a turnover forced by
Amare Miller and a quick jumper.
Elijah Walsh supported with an assist, setting up
Charlie Dalton for a layup to extend the early lead. However, WSU responded with effective shooting, including several three-pointers, to build a lead midway through the half.
FSC mounted a comeback with a series of three-pointers, including contributions from
Ameer Ramadan and
Brady Corso, closing the gap. Despite the Warriors maintaining their scoring through fast breaks and points in the paint, the Moccasins' defensive efforts, highlighted by six steals, kept the game competitive. The half concluded with Florida Southern tying the score at 44-44, following a pair of successful free throws by Corso.
Florida Southern surged in the second half, maintaining consistent pressure and effectively capitalizing on turnovers by WSU. Miller delivered a strong performance, scoring crucial points in the paint, including an early layup to tie the game. Corso contributed significantly, hitting a key 3-pointer and two free throws to help extend the lead.
The team executed a decisive run midway through the half, cemented by
Jasir Tremble's fast-break 3-pointer at 14:54, followed by another from Corso shortly after. FSC demonstrated solid defensive capabilities, forcing multiple turnovers and securing defensive rebounds, which were pivotal in maintaining their momentum.
The half closed with the Moccasins sustaining their lead, finishing strong with
Khalil Ross's free throws at 1:09 and Corso's 3-pointer with 30 seconds left on the clock. Florida Southern ended the half ahead, outscoring the Warriors 44–33.
Corso led the team with 22 points, converting three 3-pointers and gathering six rebounds. Miller added 17 points, shooting 7-for-8 from the field, and recorded two steals. Walsh contributed 12 points and assisted on three occasions. Ross posted 11 points and collected three steals, aiding the defensive effort.
In their next game, FSC will host Bemidji State on Saturday, Nov. 29, at 7:30 p.m. to wrap up the Century Retail Thanksgiving Classic. The matchup will take place at George W. Jenkins Field House in Lakeland, Florida.
