WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. -Sitting at 5-2 in the SSC, Florida Tech traveled to Palm Beach Atlantic looking for its third consecutive win. The Panthers struggled offensively against the strong defense from the Sailfish, falling 79-70. 

 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 
Final: Florida Tech 70, Palm Beach Atlantic 79
Records: Florida Tech (12-4, 5-3 SSC), Palm Beach Atlantic (7-7, 3-5 SSC)
Location: Rubin Arena | West Palm Beach, Fla.

 
FIRST HALF:

• The Sailfish came out as the aggressors offensively, making six of its first nine shots to take a 13-8 lead. 
• A quick 6-0 run gave Tech its first lead at 14-13. 
• A one-handed dunk from Mekhii Noble inside gave the Panthers a 20-19 lead with 11:27 left in the half. 
• Noble continued to be a presence inside, making a contested layup to tie the game at 24.
• A 6-0 run, off three inside baskets, for PBA gave it a 30-24 lead.
• The Sailfish lead was extended to 36-26 on an old-fashioned 3-point play in the paint with 3:07 left before the break.
• Down 14 points with under a minute left, Tech scored four consecutive points, including a buzzer-beater jumper from Sean Houpt to get to the intermission down 41-31.

SECOND HALF:

• The Panthers got within seven points on a triple from Houpt. 
• The Sailfish continued to be aggressive getting to the line two possessions in a row and making all four free throws to take a 57-44 lead. 
• PBA answered every shot Tech threw keeping its lead at 13 with 8:14 remaining with an inside basket.
• The Sailfish twice scored as the shot clock expired, including a contested corner three to give them a 75-62 lead with 4:23 left in the game. 
• An inside bucket from Noble cut the PBA lead to single digits at 75-67 with 2:48 remaining. 
• Noble continued to get looks inside making a turnaround hook to get the Panthers within six points with 1:15 left. 
• That is as close as Tech would get, as PBA made the free throws in the final minute it needed to make to secure the 79-70 win.

NOTABLE PANTHERS:

• Noble was a presence in the paint all-game, scoring a season-high 23 points on 11-of-18 shooting. On the glass, Noble brought down seven rebounds. 
• Houpt tallied 19 points and made three triples. 
• For the second consecutive game, Niall Harris flirted with a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds. 
• The last Panther in double-figures was Sesan Russell with 10 points and six rebounds. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• The Panthers shot 42.9% (27-63) from the field and 25% (6-24) from three. The Sailfish were 51.9% (28-54) shooting and 46.7% (7-15) from behind the arc. 
• Tech struggled at the free throw line all night shooting 55.6% (10-18). PBA was more successful at the line shooting 88.9% (16-18).
• The Panthers won a close battle on the glass, out-rebounding the Sailfish 35-33.
• Tech turned the ball over 16 times while PBA turned it over on 17 possessions. 
• Bench points were heavily in favor of the Sailfish with 20 points to the Panthers two bench points.

UP NEXT: Florida Tech returns to action on Wednesday Jan. 11 for a home SSC matchup with No. 22 Embry-Riddle. Tip-off from the Clemente Center is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. 

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