MELBOURNE, Fla. – A tight finish inside the Clemente Center as the Saint Leo men's basketball team held on to defeat Florida Tech 81-79 Wednesday night. With 20-seconds to go, the Panthers had the ball on their offensive half where on the inbound pass, Daniel Duarte came up with the ball to set the Lions up with a chance to seal the game. Kyran McClure's free throw with 12-seconds to go proved enough as the Panthers' last second three was no go. 
 
Saint Leo (11-13, 8-8 SSC) swept the season series with the Florida Tech Panthers (8-15, 2-13 SSC). Four players were in double-figures for the Lions where Kyran McClure paced the way with 23 points ahead of Isaiah Hill with 18, Tyler Carter at 11 and Yalen Reed with 10 points.
 
Reed and Carter tied for the team lead in rebounds with nine, where Gintaras Bartaskas notched a nine-point, seven-rebound game.
 
As a team, the Lions shot 44-percent (26-for-59) from the field including a 38-percent (10-for-26) from downtown and a 76-percent (19-for-25) from the free throw line. Saint Leo won the rebounding title with 38 to the Panthers 25.
 
How It Happened

• Florida Tech recorded the first points of the game before Saint Leo ran out to a 12-4 lead, capped by two Ty Forman free throws.
• FIT cut it to two, 17-15 before Isaiah Hill hit a three to make it a five-point game again with 8:32 to play.
• The Lions would take the next three minutes and extend their lead to seven, 30-23, before the Panthers closed it to one, 34-33.
• After two FIT free throws tied things at 36, Saint Leo closed the half on a 5-0 run over the final minute of the opening half finished off by a Gintaras Bartaskas three pointer making it 41-36.
• Saint Leo opened the half with a quick jumper to make it a seven-point game, 43-36. FIT would close the gap and tie things at 46 with 16:17 to play.
• The Lions would play in front of the ties over the next seven minutes. The Panthers would gain the lead on a three, 63-61 before a quick tie 63-63 by the Green and Gold with 8:30 to play. 
• FIT would hold a quick two-point lead, 65-63 before Tyler Carter knocked down four free throws to make Saint Leo in front, 67-65 with 6:57 remaining.
• The Panthers would take control for three minutes as FIT ran out to a six-point lead, 74-68 on a fast break layup. Saint Leo answered with a quick three by Gintaras Bartaskas to bring the game within three, 74-71, with 3:30 to play.
• After forcing an FIT turnover, Isaiah Hill hit a jumper to make it 74-73 going to the line for the and-one. Missing another free throw, Yalen Reed snagged the offensive board and put it back for the Saint Leo lead, 75-74 with 2:25 on the clock.
• FIT jumped out to a 79-75 lead with 1:22 to go before Bartaskas hit a corner three to cut it to one, 79-78.
• McClure would drive on the offensive end and head to the free throw line with 27-ticks left. McClure knocked down both free throws to push the Green and Gold ahead, 80-79.
• Daniel Duarte's steal with 20 seconds left, would allow the Lions to seal the game. Kyran McClure would go 1-for-2 from the charity stripe to make it 81-79 with 12-seconds remaining.
• A last second three for the Panthers would be no good as the Lions went on for the 81-79 road win.

 
Up Next
Saint Leo returns home to host Embry-Riddle on Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m. inside the Marion Bowman Activities Center.  
 
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.