SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo men's basketball team closed out its preseason exhibition schedule in impressive fashion Friday morning, earning a commanding 122-75 victory over the Southeast Christian Eagles at the Marion Bowman Activities Center. The contest served as the final exhibition game before the Lions begin their regular season.
The game also marked a special occasion for the Saint Leo community as the program hosted its School Day Slam, welcoming more than 500 students and faculty members from surrounding elementary and middle schools to campus for a morning of college basketball.
The Lions wasted little time establishing control, putting together a dominant first half to take a 69-38 advantage into the break. Saint Leo continued to build on its lead throughout the second half, adding 53 points to secure the 47-point victory.
Saint Leo showcased its offensive firepower with five players reaching double figures, led by junior Jamarcus Brown, who poured in a game-high 30 points. Brown finished 12-of-18 from the field, including a pair of three-pointers, while adding four rebounds and two steals.
Redshirt freshman Tre McKinnon followed with 19 points, knocking down six field goals and going 5-for-6 from the free-throw line. Senior Jayden Johnson contributed 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including two three-pointers, while Blaise Vespe recorded a double-double with 15 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
Freshman Ethan Bevis rounded out the Lions' double-digit scorers with 11 points, adding seven rebounds and three assists. Senior Cooper Frith and Johnson helped facilitate the offense with five and three assists, respectively, while senior Elijah Harris dished out a team-high six assists.
As a team, Saint Leo shot 48.8 percent (39-of-80) from the floor and connected on 13 three-pointers. The Green and Gold also controlled the glass, outrebounding Southeast Christian 56-31, while converting 31 of 35 attempts at the free-throw line.
Friday's exhibition provided a memorable atmosphere for the Lions, as the School Day Slam brought hundreds of local students and educators into the Marion Bowman Activities Center to experience college athletics and support the Green and Gold.
With the preseason schedule now complete, Saint Leo turns its attention toward the start of the regular season as the Lions will host Fort Valley State on Friday, November 13 in a non-conference game starting at 7 p.m.
