LAKELAND, Fla. — A strong second half powered Florida Southern College men's basketball (14-4, 6-2 Sunshine State) to an 89-83 victory over Embry-Riddle (8-7, 5-3 Sunshine State) on Wednesday at Jenkins Field House. Florida Southern's defense forced 17 turnovers, capitalizing with 21 points off turnovers to edge out the win.
"Great team win," said Mocs head coach
Mike Donnelly. "The guys played with great focus and energy tonight especially in the second half. Embry-Riddle is a tough team. I thought tonight's game was well played both teams."
Florida Southern opened the game with a quick jumper from
Charlie Dalton at 19:49, assisted by
Jasir Tremble, setting the pace early. The team maintained momentum as
Brady Corso hit a three-pointer at 18:30, assisted by
Ameer Ramadan, and
Amare Miller added a fast-break dunk at 17:24. Florida Southern's early offensive efficiency built a 10–5 advantage.
Throughout the period, Florida Southern executed well offensively, with Tremble contributing a three-pointer at 16:56 to extend the lead. Defensive efforts were highlighted by multiple steals, including one by
Spencer Schomers leading to a layup by
Elijah Walsh at 12:45. The home team maintained a lead, reaching 31–20 midway through the period.
However, Embry-Riddle responded with a series of successful possessions, closing the period strongly. Dawson Barr's three-pointer at 0:55 helped swing the momentum late, culminating in a three-point buzzer-beater by Jared Berry that finalized the period's score. Embry-Riddle led 48–43 at the end of the first half.
Florida Southern shifted momentum early in the second half with an impactful sequence, cutting Embry-Riddle's lead and eventually moving ahead. Walsh's three-pointer at 17:27 gave Florida Southern the lead, and the team maintained control with a series of defensive stops and efficient scoring, highlighted by Tremble's jumper at 16:43. The team capitalized on turnovers, extending their advantage with contributions across the roster.
As the half progressed, FSC maintained its edge with effective shooting and strong defense. Miller's layup at 4:45 and Tremble's three-pointer at 4:15 helped solidify the lead. Despite some resistance from the Eagles, the home team preserved its advantage with clutch free throws from Dalton in the final seconds, closing the half ahead, 89–83.
Miller scored 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting and added two blocks. Walsh contributed 14 points, including three 3-pointers, and recorded three assists. Tremble added 12 points and posted eight assists while also collecting two steals. Dalton finished with 14 points, converting all six of his free throw attempts, and grabbed five rebounds.
Erickson Bans had nine points with four assists and two steals in a big outing.Â
Looking ahead, the Mocs will travel to face Eckerd on Saturday, Jan. 17. Tip-off is set for 4:30 p.m. at McArthur Center in St. Petersburg, Florida.
