LAKELAND, Fla. — Florida Southern College men's basketball (1-0) had an electrifying start to the 2026-27 season with a 109-92 victory over No. 4 West Liberty University (0-1) 109-92 on Saturday. Florida Southern made 14 3-pointers and finished with 24 assists, 40 bench points and 26 fast-break points.
"Great win, not only to start the season, but for our program as well," said head coach
Mike Donnelly on the big win. "I thought we did a really good job playing with focus and intensity, which was a huge point of emphasis for us tonight."
The Mocs created separation late in the first half, using an 8-0 run from 2:47 to 1:16 that moved their advantage from 42-37 to 50-37 before WLU scored the final four points of the half. Earlier, Florida Southern answered the Hilltoppers' early scoring inside with
Charlie Dalton finding
Khalil Ross for a fast-break 3-pointer at 15:09, giving FSC a 14-12 lead. After several swings,
Pablo Navarro put the Moccasins back in front with a tip-in at 11:00 and followed later with a 3-pointer off
Ameer Ramadan's assist for a 26-24 edge at 9:18. Florida Southern shot 21-for-31 from the field and 5-for-9 from 3-point range in the half, with 12 assists, 28 points in the paint and 14 fast-break points helping it take a 50-41 lead into halftime.
Florida Southern created separation in the second half with a 9-0 run from 15:45 to 12:55, turning a 60-50 lead into a 69-50 advantage behind 3-pointers from
Brady Corso and
Gabe Hernandez, a
Starrell Hearns layup and a Ross free throw. Earlier, the Mocs opened the half with defensive activity, getting steals from Hernandez and Corso and adding points from Corso, Navarro and Hernandez to stay in front as WLU worked inside and on the offensive glass. FSC continued to answer in the middle of the half, with Ross hitting a 3-pointer after his block and
Brayson Green's defensive rebound, then another perimeter burst from Corso and Ramadan helped push the score to 91-73 with 5:16 left. Florida Southern shot 17-for-30 in the half, including 9-for-15 from 3-point range, and added 12 assists, six steals, and 16 made free throws. Late 3-pointers from Hearns and Navarro, Hernandez's free throws, and transition baskets from
Adren Roberts and Green helped the Moccasins finish off a 109-92 win.
Corso scored 21 points, making 7 of 10 shots and 4 of 5 from 3-point range, and added five rebounds and two steals. Navarro finished with 20 points and a team-high eight rebounds while going 7 of 9 from the field. Hearns added 16 points with three 3-pointers, three assists, a block and a steal. Roberts recorded a team-high eight assists, six rebounds and seven points.
Up next, the Mocs host No. 6 Black Hills State on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, at 5:45 p.m. at George W. Jenkins Field House in Lakeland, Fla.
