MELBOURNE, Fla. – Come back complete! The Saint Leo University men's basketball team traveled to Melbourne looking to split the season series and pick up a much needed win in the Sunshine State Conference standings when they defeated Florida Tech 74-72, completing a 12-point come back.
 
Saint Leo (12-14, 8-7 SSC) erased a 12-point deficit in the second half to pick up its eighth win in conference. A team effort on the court allowed for the Lions to complete the win. Daniel Duarte poured in a career-high 22 points on 8-of-10 shooting, including a 6-of-8 mark from beyond the arc.
 
Drago Popovic recorded his first double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Junior Searcy and Kyran McClure chipped in 14 points apiece while Searcy added six rebounds and McClure seven assists.  

"I thought tonight our team showed where they have grown over the season," Head Coach Vince Alexander mentioned after the road win. "We were down 12, and we didn't quit. This was a good road win and I am very proud of our guys."
 
The Basics
Final Score: Saint Leo 74, Florida Tech 72
Location: Charles & Ruth Clemente Center | Melbourne, Fla.
Records: Saint Leo 12-14, 8-7 SSC | Florida Tech 10-12, 5-9 SSC
 
How It Happened…
1H | Florida Tech started the home game on a 4-0 run before the Lions used back-to-back three-pointers from Junior Searcy and Daniel Duarte to take a 6-4 lead. The Panthers tied it quickly at 6-6 before Duarte hit two three's to make it 12-10 Saint Leo. The two teams would fight back and forth taking the lead and making runs before FIT used a 12-7 run late in the first half to take a 39-32 lead, the largest of the first half, to the one minute mark. Junior Searcy would slam it home on the other end off a pass from Duarte to cut it to 39-34. Drago Popovic would grab a defensive rebound and make a long pass to Duarte who would lay it in as the final bucket of the first half cutting the deficit to just three. | Florida Tech 39-36 |
 
2H | The Panthers came out of the break and continued to control the game as FIT pushed it to 50-41 at the 16:30 mark on a 11-5 run. The Lions would cut the deficit to five points, 55-50, with a quick 5-0 run off a Kyran McClure three-pointer and Junior Searcy dunk. After a timeout, the Panthers would surge again and run out to a 62-50 lead with 12:10 to play. At the 7:19 mark, the Green and Gold cut the Panthers' lead to just four points on a Junior Searcy three-pointer. Two McClure free throws cut it to two, 69-67, before Drago Popovic went 2-for-2 from the charity stripe to tie it at 69-69. Jordan Majors' old fashion three-point play, layup and free throw, would be the final points the Panthers scored with 2:52 remaining. Duarte still on fire would tie the game with a three with 1:01 to go. McClure's jumper with 11-ticks on the clock would be enough as the Lions escaped Melbourne with a two point win. FIT got two shots off in the final seconds but couldn't get it to fall. | Saint Leo 74-72 |

Points to Note

• Saint Leo erased a 12-point deficit in the second half to win its fourth straight contest.
• Daniel Duarte recorded 16 points in the first half on 100% shooting from the field. Duarte was 6-6 from the field including 4-4 from downtown. Duarte finished with a career-high 22 points on 8-10 shooting including 6-8 from downtown.
• Drago Popovic recorded his first double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Popovic hit two clutch free throws with 3:19 to play allowing the Lions to complete the come back.
• Junior Searcy and Kyran McClure added 14 points for the Lions where Searcy finished with 6 rebounds. McClure dished out 7 assists on the day.

 
For Florida Tech

• The Panthers let their lead slip away falling 74-72 after failing to make a field goal in the final 2:52 of the game.
• Jordan Majors led the way with 22 points on 8-18 shooting. Majors added a 3-8 night from beyond the arc.
• Patrick Anderson (17), Valur Valsson (13) and Sam Daniel (10) joined Majors in double-figures on the night. Valsson added six assists.

Next Up
Saint Leo returns home on Feb. 7 to host the Sharks of Nova Southeastern University at 7:30 p.m. The Lions will honor the President's Club members during halftime of the game.
 
For the latest news, updates, and information on the Saint Leo men'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.