MELBOURNE, Fla. - Two career-high nights helped the Saint Leo men's basketball team hold off a pesky Florida Tech squad, as junior Marcus Dewberry and Tyreece Brice registered 34 and 23 points, respectively, to help the Lions top the Panthers, 99-94.
Dewberry's 34 points top his previous career-best of 33, which he set earlier this season against Lynn. Brice tied his career-best of 23, which he managed against Florida Southern back in December. Joining the duo in double figures were freshman Carter Belling, who added 11, and sophomore Caleb Stewart, who finished with 10.
The Basics
Final Score: Saint Leo 99 | Florida Tech 94
Location: Clemente Center | Melbourne, Fla.
Records: Saint Leo 9-6, 3-3 | Florida Tech 10-5, 3-2
How It Happened
1H | The Florida Tech Panthers led for a total of 46 seconds before the Lions hot shooting took off and they did not look back. Saint Leo connected on 20 of 35 attempts from the field for an impressive 57.1 percent shooting. Even more impressively, the Lions hit seven of 14 from beyond the three-point arc. Marcus Dewberry led the way with 14 points on 66.7 percent shooting, while eight of the nine Lions who saw action in the period scored. The Lions also took care of the ball in the opening period, committing just four turnovers, while capitalizing on the Panthers mistakes, adding 18 off the host team's nine turnovers. | Saint Leo 49-36 |
2H | Over the first nine minutes of the second half, the Panthers shot 58.3 percent from the field, and out-scored the Lions, 20-14. However, Dewberry's 20 second-half points and Brice's 14 kept the Lions ahead. With 15:04 left to play, Saint Leo held on to their final double-digit lead, as a Dewberry three gave the Lions 59 to FIT's 49. From there, the Panthers clawed their way into the game, closing the gap to just one point on a Jordan Majors lay-up. Again, a Dewberry three came at the perfect time, and the Lions pulled ahead by four, and never let the hosts get as close as just a point behind again. Saint Leo saw multiple players step up and hit clutch free throws over the waning minutes, and they sealed the game. | Saint Leo 99-94 |
Points to Note
- Dewberry completed his second 30-plus and seventh 20-plus point game of the season. Dewberry has now surpassed his season point total from last year. In the 2014-15 year he had 264; he now has 291 points this season, just eight shy of 300. The junior finished the game shooting 13-of-21 from the field for 61.9 percent. His 13 made baskets was a career high.
- This was Belling's seventh game with multiple three point field goals and his fifth-straight game connecting from deep.
- Brice has now had three 20+ point games on the season. He added a tied career best six rebounds, four assists, and two steals. The point guard also only committed one turnover all game.
- Stewart added a team-high seven rebound and a team-best five assists to his 10 points.
- As a team, the Lions shot 42.3 percent from beyond the three point arc. They also saw eight of the nine who saw action tonight, score.
For the Panthers
- The Panthers out-rebounded Saint Leo, 46-34 on the evening, grabbing 15 offensive boards, adding 21 second-chance points.
- Four different FIT players scored in double-figures, led by Jermohn Queen and Jordan Majors who both finished with 19. Corbin Jackson finished with the game's lone double-double, scoring 12 points and 17 rebounds, adding three blocks. Randy Echols came off the bench for 11.
Up Next
Saint Leo return home in Sunshine State Conference play on Saturday, Jan. 9, as the Lions host Rollins. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m.
For the latest news, updates, and information on the Saint Leo women's basketball, be sure to visit SaintLeoLions.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Lions news by following Saint Leo Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
