INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Florida Tech 78, Florida Southern 81
Records: FT (9-8, 3-9 SSC) | FSC (8-12, 5-7 SSC)
Location: Jenkins Field House | Lakeland, Fla.

FIRST HALF: 

• Panthers jumped out to an early 6-3 lead on baskets by Runako Ziegler and Sesan Russell and a pair of free throws from Mate Papai.
• Leading 14-13, Tech ensued on a 9-0 run to go up 23-13 with 11:53 left. Niall Harris scored 7 of the Panthers' points during the run. 
• A pair of free throws by Ameer Bennett gave Tech a 38-26 lead with 4:28 to go but the Mocs cut the margin to 38-32 with 2:57 remaining.
• Panthers ensued on a 7-0 run and grabbed their largest lead of the first half at 45-32 with 35 seconds left before halftime. 
• Mocs' EJ Dambreville made a layup with 13 seconds to go before the break and the Panthers went into halftime with a 45-34 lead.

SECOND HALF: 

• Mocs opened the second half on a 24-14 run and trimmed Tech's lead to 59-58 with 11:22 to go. 
• Sean Houpt knocked down his lone basket of the game to give the Panthers a 62-58 advantage with 10:32 left on the clock. 
• FSC took a 67-66 lead following a pair of free throws by Luke Anderson with 5:58 to go. It was the Mocs' first lead since going up 3-0, 25 seconds after the opening tip.
• After Russell gave Tech back the lead, 75-74, with 2:18 remaining, Jack Casale hit a three on the other end to hand the Mocs a 77-75 advantage.
• Russell tied the game at 77 on a second-chance jumper with 43 seconds to go. 
• Mocs made 4 consecutive free throws to build their lead to 81-78 with 15 seconds remaining. 
• Panthers had several chances to tie the game during the waning seconds but the Mocs were able to hold on for the win. 

NOTABLE PANTHERS:

• For the second game in a row, Niall Harris recorded a double-double finishing with 23 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block and 1 steal on 9-20 shooting including 4-8 beyond the arc.
• Sesan Russell just missed a double-double with 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists on 7-19 shooting
• Runako Ziegler added 16 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists on 3-11 shooting. 
• Mate Papai tallied 12 points and 3 rebounds on 4-6 shooting.

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE:

• Florida Tech shot 37% (25-68) from the field, 25% (7-28) beyond the arc and 84% (21-25) on free throws.
• Florida Southern made 56% (30-54) from the field, including 43% (10-23) from three, and 61% (11-18) at the line. 
• Panthers won the rebounding battle 42-30, including a 20-5 edge on the offensive glass. 
• Mocs led in points in the paint (32-28), fastbreak points (19-4) and bench points (35-4).

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Florida Southern improves to 70-26 all-time versus Florida Tech
• Panthers fall to 3-9 in SSC play after opening the season 3-0.

UP NEXT: Florida Tech is back in action on Saturday, Jan. 29, hosting Rollins College at the Clemente Center. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.
 
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