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Florida Tech Panthers

Thompson
Josiann Keenan
65
Saint Leo SLU 4-4,0-2 Sunshine State
78
Winner Florida Tech FT 7-0,2-0 Sunshine State
Saint Leo SLU
4-4,0-2 Sunshine State
65
Final
78
Florida Tech FT
7-0,2-0 Sunshine State
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Saint Leo SLU 34 31 65
Florida Tech FT 48 30 78

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Matt Padeway

Thompson’s Double-Double Leads Panthers Past Saint Leo

MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Florida Tech men's basketball team powered past the Saint Leo Lions, 78-65, to remain undefeated on the season.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Florida Tech 78, Saint Leo 65
Records: Florida Tech (7-0, 2-0 SSC), Saint Leo (4-4, 0-2 SSC)
Location: Charles and Ruth Clemente Center | Melbourne, Fla.
 
FIRST HALF:
  • Elias Martin got things started for the Panthers with a tough layup under the basket. Saint Leo answered with a three-point jumper on the following possession.
  • Both teams traded baskets for the next few minutes and Tech found themselves up 14-13 heading into the first media timeout after a made basket by Rahsaan Edwards.
  • The back-and-forth continued as both teams stayed consistent on offense. A Saint Leo layup at the 12:26 mark cut into the Panthers lead and made it 20-17.
  • Tech got hot and broke off an 11-2 that was capped off by a monster fast break dunk by David McCullough to make it 31-19 and force the Lions to take a timeout with 7:48 left in the first half.
  • Both teams continued to trade shots and possession. The Panthers took a 39-31 lead heading into the final media timeout of the half.
  • Tech closed out the half on a 9-3 run that was capped by another dunk from McCullough to take a 48-34 lead into halftime.
 
SECOND HALF:
  • The Lions started the second half on a quick 4-0 run, but Chase Thompson answered for the Panthers with a layup and a triple on back-to-back possessions to make it 53-38 with 16:41 on the clock.
  • A trey from McCullough at the 11:40 mark gave Tech a 61-44 lead and a few minutes later a layup by Martin put the Panthers up 20, 72-52, with 7:39 remaining.
  • A McCullough block led to a fastbreak layup for Niall Harris to make it 76-58 just before the final media timeout of the game.
  • Both teams traded shots in the final few minutes of the game, but the lead was too much for the Lions to overcome and Tech came away with the 78-65 victory.
 
NOTABLE PANTHERS:
  • Tonight's player of the game was Chase Thompson who registered his first double-double as a member of the Panthers. Thompson finished with 21 points on 7-for-12 shooting, including 4-for-6 from three-point range, 10 rebounds, one assist, and one block.
  • David McCullough scored 20 points on 9-for-15 shooting, hauled in eight boards, dished out five assists, and blocked the ball five times. In his first season with the Panthers, McCullough has already registered 17 blocks in just six games, which is the fifth-most in the past decade
  • Elias Martin added 13 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks.
 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
  • Florida Tech shot 49.2 percent (32-for-65) from the floor, including 37.5 percent (9-for-24) from beyond the arc.
  • Saint Leo shot 39.7 percent (25-for-63) from the floor, including 33.3 (7-for-21) percent from three-point range.
  • The Panthers move to 48-65 all-time against the Lions.
 
UP NEXT: Florida Tech will next play on Friday, Dec. 8 on the road against Embry-Riddle. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Daytona Beach, Fla.
 
For the latest news, updates and information on the Florida Tech men's basketball team, visit FloridaTechSports.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Panthers news by following Florida Tech Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
 
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