MELBOURNE, Fla. – For the second, straight contest, the Saint Leo University Men's basketball team avenged an earlier loss in the season, defeating Florida Tech 92-72 Wednesday night at the Charles and Ruth Clemente Center.
Saint Leo (15-7, 7-5 SSC) recorded a season-high 60% from beyond the perimeter while shooting 60% from the field. From the charity stripe, the Green & Gold made 20 of 23 shots.
Guard
Kanon Koster recorded his third, straight 20+ point performance, tallying 22 points from 6-for-12, including 3-of-5 from long range. Saint Leo (15-7, 7-5 SSC) also boasted two additional players that reached 20 or more points in Fifth-year forward
Marty Jackson and Sophomore guard
Grant Disken.
The contest began with the Lions and the Panthers (14-6, 7-5 SSC) exchanging baskets until midway through the first half. After a made jumper from Florida Tech's Sam Grant cut Saint Leo's lead to 22-20, the Green & Gold went on a 14-3 scoring run over the next four and a half minutes that ultimately proved to be the difference in the contest to extend the lead 36-23 with 4:58 left in the first half. Both sides would score five more points each before intermission hit, with the Lions taking a 13-point lead into the locker room.
Momentum continued to side with the Green & Gold in the second half, as Saint Leo pushed its lead out further, leading by as many as 22 (79-57) with under seven minutes remaining. The Lions' defense finished out the contest by allowing no field goals to the Panthers for the final 3:56 to solidify the 92-72 win.
"That's a big time road win" said Head Coach
Lance Randall after the game. "We fought for the full 40 minutes; our ball movement and pace was outstanding. This group shares the ball so incredibly well that we weren't getting stopped consistently."
Randall continued "Marty, Grant, and Kanon were dominant offensively;
Owen Pawlikowski was outstanding on both sides of the ball.
Jeremy Sanchez and
Jared Coomer gave great minutes off the bench and
Logan Ryan was a big lift again in the second half. Proud of the way we competed and answered the bell in a crucial midweek game."
With Palm Beach Atlantic's 94-91 upset win over RV/- Florida Southern, the Lions are now in a four-way tie for second place in the Sunshine State Conference. Saint Leo will look to avoid the same fate as the Mocs Saturday when the Green & Gold travels to West Palm Beach, Fla. to face the Sailfish. Tipoff at Rubin Arena is set for 4 p.m.
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