MELBOURNE, FLA. – Panther hoops concluded the 2025-26 regular season on Saturday afternoon at the Clemente Center against Lynn. Prior to the game, the program honored seniors Matt Daulerio, Xavier Ford-Belton, Konstantinos Lagos and Sterling White III for their contributions to the program. The Senior Day crowd saw a highly competitive game that ultimately went to the Lynn Fighting Knights, 76-68.
SSC PLAY – GAME TWENTY
Final: Florida Tech Panthers 68, Lynn Fighting Knights 76
Records: Florida Tech (10-18, 6-14 SSC) | Lynn (14-13, 9-11)
Location: Clemente Center | Melbourne, Florida
GAME NOTES:
First Half:
- Lynn scored the game's first six points thanks to three-pointers from Antoine Jacks.
- Florida Tech immediately countered with eight points of their own thanks to three Ty Harpring free throws, a Matt Daulerio triple and a Greyson Williams layup to take their first lead at 16:29.
- The Fighting Knights responded with a 7-0 run of their own over the next two minutes.
- Tech eventually reclaimed a 16-15 lead at the 9:30 mark thanks to threes from Ca'Darrius Sowell and AJ Lieuwen.
- The teams traded baskets over the next five and a half minutes with neither team having an advantage of more than two points as John Roland's layup put Lynn back in front, 24-23 just before the four-minute mark of the first half.
- The Crimson and Gray surged ahead by five thanks to a 6-0 run ignited by a powerful Xavier Ford-Belton two-hand slam and was boosted two pairs of free throws by Sowell to give the Panthers a 29-24 lead with 2:39 left in the opening half.
- The Fighting Knights drew back within two before Harpring and Braydon Iuli traded threes and the Panthers took a two-point lead into the intermission.
HALFTIME SCORE - Florida Tech 32, Lynn 30
Second Half:
- The second frame would have a similar start with Lynn scoring the first two baskets through Roland free throws and Iuli layups.
- Once again, Florida Tech responded immediately with Harpring and Lieuwen hitting from deep to give the Panthers a 38-34 lead with 16:11 to play.
- Lynn then followed with a 14-2 run over the next five minutes that gave them the lead for good.
- Leading the charge for the Fighting Knights during the surge was Justin Bubak with five of the 14 points.
- Once again, the Crimson and Gray showed resolve as back to back threes by Lieuwen and Williams shrunk the deficit to two with just over 10 minutes remaining.
- As would be the story of the remainder of the game, Lynn did not fold, immediately firing back with their own 8-0 run to push their lead back to double digits through threes from Jacks and JP Baron along with an Iuli layup.
- Just as it appeared the Fighting Knights were going to add to their lead with an easy layup off of a turnover, Sowell made a tremendous chasedown block of Jacks. Tech made the most of the moment as the fast break the other way led to an open Harpring three with 7:33 to go.
- Harpring connected again on their next possession to bring the Panthers within four.
- Over the next three and a half minutes, Lynn would keep Florida Tech at arm's length as the Panthers could get no closer than four points until Grant Lovette's corner three with 3:26 remaining shrunk the Crimson and Gray deficit to 67-66.
- A three-point play on Lynn's next possession restored their advantage to four and while a Sowell jumper brought Tech within two with just over two minutes to go, the Fighting Knights scored on each of their next two possessions to secure the win.
FINAL SCORE - Florida Tech 68, Lynn 76
NOTABLE PANTHERS:
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- Lynn now leads the all-time series, 43-26.
- Xavier Ford-Belton finishes his Florida Tech career with 301 rebounds and 52 blocks.
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