TAMPA, Fla. – The Saint Leo men's basketball team returned to the win column on Saturday afternoon. The Lions earned their first Sunshine State Conference win of the season with a 93-77 victory at Tampa. The Green and Gold improved to 5-4 overall and 1-2 in SSC play, while Tampa falls to 4-5 overall and 1-2 in SSC play.

Kanon Koster led the Lions with 29 points. His sharpshooting from beyond the arc (7-for-8) and overall efficiency (10-for-19) played a crucial role in the Saint Leo offensive onslaught. Cantia Rahming continued to be a threat on defense as he brought down 15 total rebounds including 10 defensive rebounds and added 14 points as he notched his sixth double-double of the season. Logan Ryan dished out a season-high five assists and brought down seven rebounds while adding nine points.

The Lions showed remarkable improvement in shooting efficiency from the first half (35.90%) to the second half (51.61%), finishing the game with an impressive 42.9% overall field goal percentage.

Saint Leo opened the first half strong, building a 15-point lead with five made treys. The Spartans slowed down a hot Lion's offense and tied the game at 23-23 with seven minutes remaining in the first half. The Lions only lost the lead for three minutes and 27 seconds as the Spartans' lead grew to as much as five.

Amar Hot nailed a three at 3:06 remaining in the first half to give the visitors the lead, a lead they maintained till the final buzzer in the second half. The Lions took a 38-32 lead into the locker room.

Saint Leo used a 55-point second half to earn its first SSC victory of 2023-24 season. Koster (23), Rahming (10), and Greyson Pritzl (15) combined for 48 of Saint Leo's 55 points.

Head coach Lance Randall's thoughts after the game: "I thought the ball moved exceptionally well and the result was a lot of knocked-down threes and deep paint shots. We defended with a lot of grit and were very connected all evening. This is how Saint Leo needs to play. It's a great win. I am proud of the effort and togetherness of this group today."

Saint Leo returns to the hardwood in nine days when it travels to Wisconsin Dells, Wis. to host the Saint Leo Classic @ JustAGame Fieldhouse. The Lions will take on Maryville (Dec. 18) and Lake Superior State (Dec. 19). The Green and Gold is scheduled to close out the 2023 calendar year at Rollins (Dec. 30). 

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.