DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – In a wild, Sunshine State Conference showdown, the Saint Leo University Men's basketball team overcame a double-digit deficit, as late clutch baskets from Sophomore
Grant Disken in the final 64 seconds gave the Lions a 76-75 upset win over #13 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) Wednesday night at the ICI Center.
Saint Leo (4-3, 1-1 SSC) handed the Eagles (6-1, 1-1 SSC) its first loss of the season, snapping a three-game skid against ERAU overall. The Green & Gold saw five post double-digit scoring performances, as the Lions finished the night shooting over 48% from the field. Saint Leo held the nation's second-highest rebounding team to 39 boards.
Fifth-Year Forward
Marty Jackson led the team with 17 points and eight rebounds, shooting 50% from the floor. The SSC Defensive Player of the Week also notched two blocks with a steal on the defensive end.
Both Disken and Sophomore Forward
Cantia Rahming went 5-for-6 from the court, respectively scoring 14 and 15 points. Freshman Guard
Owen Pawlikowski finished the night with 10 points that came from a 4-for-6 performance, including 2-of-3 from beyond the perimeter. Redshirt Senior Guard
Kanon Koster scored 13 while recording five boards and two steals.
Saint Leo set the tone in the first half, jumping out to a 6-0 lead and maintaining it for nearly 12 minutes before the Eagles took its first lead 21-19 at the 8:23 mark. After Koster tied the game 25-25 with a pair of good free throws, baskets from Jackson and Junior Forward
Jared Coomer gave the lead back to the Lions before a 13-4 run from Embry-Riddle gave the Eagles a 38-33 lead with 1:11 remaining in the first half. The Green & Gold finished the half with a pair of Coomer free throws and went into the locker room trailing by one possession (38-35).
While ERAU began the second half maintaining its lead, the Lions kept up just enough to keep the contest to a single-digit difference. After Jackson went 1-for-2 on a free throw set to pull within two (53-51) of Embry-Riddle at the 13:51 mark, the Eagles soared to a 10-2 over a span of nearly four minutes to post its largest lead of the contest 63-53.
Down by 10 with 9:58 left in the game, momentum gradually shifted in the Green & Gold's direction, as the Lions' defense clamped down and kept ERAU scoreless for over five minutes while working its way back to score 12, unanswered points and retake the lead 65-63.
After a good layup from Jackson gave the Lions a slim 71-68, ERAU quickly responded with a 3-ptr., tying the contest 71-71 with 1:38 left. On the ensuing possession, Disken hit his first of two clutch shots, a corner trey that put the Lions back in front 74-71 with 1:04 remaining.
Embry-Riddle looked to tie the game again in the final minute but missed a 3-ptr., giving the Lions a chance to ice the game with a bucket before a blocked shot by the ERAU gave the Eagles another possession, leading to two good free throws to slim Saint Leo's lead to one (74-73) with 18 seconds left.
Following the free throws, the Eagles made a defensive play that led to a steal and score (75-74) with 10 seconds remaining, appearing to seal the deal before the Lions' fastbreak transition set up a fade-away jumper by Disken for the go-ahead basket with three seconds left.
Embry-Riddle would attempt a half-court heave before the final buzzer sounded, solidifying the one-point victory and the upset win for Saint Leo.
"That was a gutsy, gutsy win by a tough-minded group of guys who are determined to come away with a win" Head Coach
Lance Randall said after the game. "Grant's distance shots were huge: the three in the corner out of a busted play was big time, but the presence of mind to push that thing up deep in transition down by one and get a shot in his sweet spot was the game winner, clearly."
"Marty and Cantia were dominant through long stretches. Jared did a terrific job defensively and really just a floor general in the game for us. Kanongot some early foul trouble but was a load as always. That front line came up with some huge rebounds after some big stops."
"Our Freshman Owen and Trey {Lane} were really good; Trey great in that long stretch in the second half."
"This team is getting a little bit better every week. We have some elite competitors in this group and that's what gives us a chance to reach our goals. I'm very happy for them; it's a great win against a nationally-ranked team on their home court."
The Lions will look to carry its momentum heading back home, as the Green & Gold host Palm Beach Atlantic Saturday in another Sunshine State Conference game. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
For the latest news, updates, and information on Saint Leo Men's Basketball, 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.
