Devastating Defeat Handed to Tech Basketball

ORLANDO, Fla. (men’s basketball) – As the Panthers faced their second Division I opponent in one week, Florida Tech suffered a disheartening defeat to
University of Central Florida 81-37.

Looking to rebuild off the defeat to Jacksonville University two days earlier the Panthers started the game off well with a made three pointer by Justin
Sedlak (Pezinik, Slovakia) scoring the first points of the game. As the Panthers looked like they would compete and be in a battle with the Golden Knights,
Central Florida took over and went on a 15-0 run in a six minute period before the Panther could stop the scoring drought with Central
Florida taking a 23-7 lead.

Settling in after a timeout and nine minutes to play in the half, the Panthers stepped up defensively only allowing 10 points by the Golden Knights but was
consistently cold offensively only hitting two shots in the remainder of the half; a three pointer by Sean Zeller (Merritt Island, Fla.) marking the
Panthers 10th point in the half and a short jumper by Matt Hill (Fort Myers, Fla.) to notch Tech’s 12th point of the half. The Golden Knights at the half
led 35-12 marking the lowest scoring half by the Panthers this year.

Before this game, the Panthers as team was shooting just under 40% from the field at 39.1% but couldn’t find the bottom of the net shooting 14.3%, 4-28
from the field and only converting on two three pointers out of twelve shots from beyond the arc.

Keeping their heads high, the Panthers kept fighting with the start of the second half outscoring the Golden Knights seven to six in the first six minutes
showing that they won’t go away quietly. Despite never quitting and playing hard, the Golden Knights lead was too much for the Panthers to overcome. Tech
doubled their first half score totaling 37 points but let up 81 for the 81-37 loss marking their lowest scoring outing this year.

Tech did shoot better in the half hitting 10 shots on 28 attempts shooting 35.7 percent from the field but like the first half only hit two three pointers.

Throughout the game, the Panthers were cold from all over the court shooting 14-56 for 25% from the field and hit only four shots from three point range
shooting 4-21 for 19.0% for the game. Despite the lack of scoring the Panthers defensive caused 17 turnovers and totaled 10 steals on the night.

Offensively, 10 of the 12 Tech players scored with Sean Zeller recording the team high with nine points, all off three pointers. Janko Mrskic (Stoney
Creek, Ontario) had six points and eight rebounds on the night to lead the team with rebounds having his best defensive game of the year so far. Tech’s two
top scoring threats Carl McNally (Cocoa Beach, Fla.) and Justin Sedlak were held to only nine total points in the game shooting a combined 4-22 from the
floor; Sedlak with five and McNally with four points.

Tech (1-3) looks to rebound as they host South Regional opponent Palm Beach Atlantic University on Wednesday, November 29th at 7:30 pm at the Clemente
Center.

Newspaper Box Score
Florida Tech vs UCF
11/24/06 7:30 p.m. at Orlando, Fla.
At Orlando, Fla.
UCF 81, FLORIDA TECH 37
FLORIDA TECH (1-3)
ZELLER, Sean 3-5 0-0 9; MRKSIC, Janko 2-4 2-3 6; SEDLAK, Justin 2-9 0-0 5;
McNALLY, Carl 2-13 0-0 4; KELLEY, Jod 2-12 0-0 4; HILL, Matt 1-2 0-0 2;
PAROTTE, Edmond 1-1 0-0 2; BALLARD, Ryan 0-3 2-2 2; AGEE, Markus-Alan 1-2
0-0 2; RICHARDSON, Arthur 0-5 1-2 1; SALLS, Joe 0-0 0-0 0; CLARK, Damien 0-0
0-0 0; WOODSON, Donovan 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 14-56 5-7 37.
UCF (4-0)
TAYLOR, Jermaine 6-9 0-0 15; PEPPERS, Josh 3-9 5-6 12; BATTLE, Mike 4-5 0-0
11; ZONDERVAN, Kenrick 3-5 2-2 8; CARTWRIGHT, Chip 3-5 0-0 6; NOEL, Dave 2-4
1-2 6; PAYNE, Lavell 1-2 3-4 5; LOUCKS, Jacob 1-1 2-4 4; BILLINGS, Stanley
1-4 2-2 4; THORNTON, Andre 2-5 0-0 4; DAVIS, Tony 1-4 0-0 3; O’DONNELL, Mike
1-3 0-0 3. Totals 28-56 15-20 81.
Florida Tech……………… 12 25 – 37
UCF……………………… 35 46 – 81
3-point goals–Florida Tech 4-21 (ZELLER, Sean 3-4; SEDLAK, Justin 1-3;
McNALLY, Carl 0-6; KELLEY, Jod 0-3; BALLARD, Ryan 0-1; RICHARDSON, Arthur
0-3; MRKSIC, Janko 0-1), UCF 10-20 (BATTLE, Mike 3-4; TAYLOR, Jermaine 3-3;
NOEL, Dave 1-3; PEPPERS, Josh 1-5; DAVIS, Tony 1-2; O’DONNELL, Mike 1-2;
CARTWRIGHT, Chip 0-1). Fouled out–Florida Tech-None, UCF-None.
Rebounds–Florida Tech 27 (MRKSIC, Janko 8), UCF 45 (DAVIS, Tony 9).
Assists–Florida Tech 10 (McNALLY, Carl 2; AGEE, Markus-Alan 2; KELLEY, Jod
2), UCF 18 (CARTWRIGHT, Chip 7). Total fouls–Florida Tech 16, UCF 14.
Technical fouls–Florida Tech-TEAM, UCF-None. A-1704
ID-482420

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