LAKELAND, Fla. – Despite having one of its better offensive performances of the season, Florida Tech was unable to keep pace with No. 23 Florida Southern Wednesday and fell to the Moccasins, 103-92, in SSC action at Jenkins Field House.  

It is the fourth time this season that the Panthers scored at least 90 points. However, the Mocs had extra motivation on their side after receiving an earlier season loss to Tech. This time around, FSC overpowered the Panthers for much of the contest, sending them to a third straight loss and a 2-11 record in league play.

Derek Murphy scored a game-high 34 points and hauled in seven rebounds. Sesan Russell poured in 25 points, his most in a Panther uniform, on 7-of-11 shooting and added four boards. Antonis Pefanis ended with 13 points and seven rebounds.

The Mocs got off to a fast start and led the Panthers, 10-5, just 2:45 into the contest but a quick 9-3 run by Tech, on threes by Murphy, Pefanis and Valur Valsson, gave Florida Tech a 14-13 advantage.

The Panther's lead did not last long though, as Slinky Jones knocked down consecutive threes for FSC and handed the Mocs a 23-16 edge with 12:55 to go in the first half.

FSC led 47-40 following a trey by Deandre Campbell with 1:55 left in the half. Pefanis would answer Campbell's three to make it a four-point game with just under 90 seconds left before halftime.

With less than 10 seconds to go in the first half, Russell fouled FSC's Jonathan Lawton on a late three-point attempt, sending him to the line for three shots. Lawton hit on all of his tries and the Panthers found themselves trailing by, 55-49, at the intermission.

Poor shooting and turnovers allowed the Mocs to expand their lead early in the second half. A turnover by Valsson at the 13:35 mark freed up Brett Hanson for the fast break bucket, which gave Florida Southern a 71-62 lead.

The Panthers again trimmed their deficit down to four, 71-67, on a quick jumper by Russell but the Mocs then ensued on a 13-2 run and grabbed an 84-69 lead with 7:22 to go.

Florida Tech did cut the margin down to as few as five points, 90-85, following a pair of free throws by Pefanis with 4:02 remaining in the game. But the rally fell short though for the Panthers as FSC increased its lead back to double-digits and then cruised the rest of the way to earn the season split with Florida Tech.

The Crimson & Gray ended the game shooting 46 percent (29-of-63) from the field as a team, while also hitting 9-of-26 from beyond the arc and 25-of-36 at the charity stripe. FSC made 53 percent from the field in Wednesday's game, as well as 10-of-23 from three-point land and 15-of-17 at the free throw line.

Florida Southern finished the contest with an advantage in rebounds, 39-37, bench points, 17-8, points in the paint, 44-36, and fast break points, 10-0. Both teams ended with 13 second-chance points.

Florida Tech will look to get back in the win column this weekend when the Panthers travel to Tampa, Fla. for a matchup with the Tampa Spartans. Tip-off for the game is set for 4 p.m. at the Bob Martinez Athletics Center.

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