Albany, Georgia – Florida Tech Men's Basketball wrapped up the away slate of their non-conference schedule this evening as they traveled back to Georgia to play Albany State. Coming off two straight wins against regional opponents, the Panthers were looking to continue building momentum early in the season.
GAME SIX – NON-CONFERENCE
Final: Florida Tech Panthers 94, Albany State Rams 74
Records: Florida Tech (3-4, 0-1 SSC)
| Albany State (0-4, 0-1 SIAC)
Location: HREP Complex
| Albany, Georgia
GAME NOTES:
First Half:
- Tonight's game started with four straight three-pointers (two each side) with Ca'Darrius Sowell and Ty Harpring getting Tech going offensively.
- Greyson Williams gave the Panthers their first lead of the game (7-6) by getting into the lane and drawing a foul.
- Harpring drilled two more three-pointers, and Xavier Ford-Belton joined the beyond-the-arc party by hitting one of his own, and the Panthers led 16-9.
- The three balls continued to fall for Tech as Brewer Nitcher and AJ Lieuwen made it seven total threes made through the first ten minutes.
- The Panthers got more points from Xavier Ford-Belton and Noah Van Bibber as they held a steady double-digit lead at 31-17.
- Albany State tried to contain the Panthers, but Noah Van Bibber hit two more threes and Lieuwen added another as the Panthers led by over 20 at 41-20 with four minutes remaining in the half.
- Brewer Nitcher and Ty Harpring ended the half with more made shots as Tech kept their lead in the twenties.
HALFTIME SCORE - Florida Tech 49, Albany State 29
Second Half:
- After connecting on 13 three balls in the first half, Noah Van Bibber kept the heat check going by sinking his first three-pointer of the second half.
- While Tech got points in the paint from Brewer Nitcher and Ca'Darrius Sowell, the Rams came out of the half dropping 15 points in the first five minutes.
- After another Rams basket, the Panther lead was cut to single digits, but they still led 55-46.
- Nitcher got himself into double-digits for the first time in his college career with another made three-pointer, and after Greyson Williams and Van Bibber drove the lane for easy buckets, the Tech lead was back to 20 points at 66-46.
- The Rams earned their biggest run of the game by scoring eight to try and cut into the lead, but points from Matt Daulerio and Ty Harpring kept the lead in double-digits as the clock moved under ten minutes.
- Van Bibber drilled his seventh three of the ballgame, Daulerio finished a wide-open layup after a smooth dish from Sowell and Ford-Belton used his strength to power through the defense for two more as the Tech lead got back up to over twenty at 90-69 with 4:30 left in the contest.
- Down the stretch, the Panthers hit their free throws and played tough defense to keep the Rams out of striking distance as they went on to win their third straight game.
FINAL SCORE - Florida Tech 94, Albany State 74
COACHES CORNER:
- Head Coach Will Murphy on 20-point win, "It was nice to make shots, but we can't always control that. However, the separation came from the rebounding advantage, and that is something we can control."
NOTABLE PANTHERS:
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- Tech finishes "Feast Week" with a 3-0 record.
- Freshman Greyson Williams records his first career/college double-double.
UP NEXT: The Panthers will return to Florida and remain in the Sunshine State for the remainder of the season. Tech will finish their eight-game road trip to begin the season on the road at Rollins for their second SSC game of the year. This contest is scheduled for 7:30 PM on Wednesday, December 3
rd.
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