MELBOURNE, Fla. - Florida Tech went head-to-head with No. 12 Lynn Saturday and nearly knocked off the Fighting Knights in overtime at the Clemente Center. However, an untimely foul-out, as well as turnovers in the extra period, doomed the Panthers, and as LU was able to escape with a 76-71 road win. 
 
Nieja Jordan did his best to keep Florida Tech in the game and ended up posting the best performance of his collegiate career. He finished with 21 points (9-of-11 FG) and 12 rebounds in the contest, both are career-highs. Jordan also collected three blocks and two steals. This is his first career double-double.
 
Sesan Russell recorded 17 points, four rebounds, and four assists. Derek Murphy added 15 points and four rebounds and Antonis Pefanis contributed 10 points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals. 
 
This game was a back-and-forth affair throughout with nine lead changes and seven ties occurring in the ballgame. Additionally, the margin between Florida Tech and Lynn never grew to more than eight points throughout the entire contest.
 
Murphy opened the game by knocking down a jumper on the Panthers' opening possession. Tech then led 9-6 after Pefanis picked-off a Lynn pass and found Murphy sprinting down the court for an emphatic fast-break dunk with 15:30 left in the first half.
 
Lynn would use an 11-3 run later in the first half to grab a 17-12 edge with 12:07 to go. 
 
The teams would stay within one possession of each other for much of the remaining time in the first half and the Fighting Knights took a 31-28 lead into halftime. 
 
The Panthers scored five quick points to open the second half and tied the game at 33-33 with 18:16 left in regulation. 
 
Tech then grabbed a 41-36 lead following a jumper by Murphy with 14:15 to go. However, Lynn proceeded to outscore the Panthers, 24-11, and corralled a 60-52 lead with 5:43 remaining.
 
With the clock ticking down in regulation, Florida Tech went on a 10-2 run and cut the deficit to 64-62 with 2:20 left on the clock. On a later possession, Jordan put-back a missed three by Russell to tie the score at 64-64 with 1:42 to go. 
 
Despite both teams having great opportunities late in the game neither was able to add to their total and Florida Tech and No. 12 Lynn went to overtime tied at 64.
 
Unfortunate for the Crimson & Gray, on the first defensive possession of overtime for Tech Murphy was called for his fifth and final foul, forcing him to leave the game. With Murphy out, the Panthers had to find a way to fend off Lynn without the SSC's leading scorer. 
 
The remaining Panthers fought valiantly throughout the final 4:18 of overtime. Consecutive offensive tip-ins by Pefanis and a trey by Russell made it a one-point game, 72-71, with 1:33 remaining.
 
Following a pair of free throws by Lynn, which gave the Fighting Knights a 74-71 edge, the Panthers got the ball back with just 13 seconds to go.
 
Pefanis was able to get off two looks from three over the waning seconds but neither fell. Lynn's Jamal Palmer grabbed the rebound on the final attempt and the Panthers were forced to foul and send him to line with three seconds left.
 
Palmer then made both free throws to seal the win for the Fighting Knights and send Tech to its eighth loss in a row.
 
Florida Tech made 25-of-59 (.424) from the field in the game, including 9-of-24 (.375) from three, and 12-of-14 (.857) at the charity stripe. Lynn shot 23-of-61 (.377), including 13-of-32 (.406) from beyond the arc, and 17-of-19 (.895) free throws.
 
LU won the rebounding battle, 42-33, including a 15-8 disparity on the offensive glass that led to 15 second-chance points for the Fighting Knights.
 
Tech, on the other hand, concluded the contest with an advantage in points in the paint (20-18), points off turnovers (17-11), and bench points (27-17).
 
Florida Tech will look to end its home schedule with a Senior Night victory over Rollins College next Wednesday, Feb. 27, in the Panthers' next and final home game. The matchup is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Clemente Center.
 
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