Florida Tech to Host UPR-Rio Piedras
MELBOURNE, Fla. (Men’s Basketball) – Florida Tech plays host to Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras in the team’s
home and regular-season opener tonight. the game Florida Tech and UPR-Rio Piedras meet for just the third time tonight with the
series tied at one win apiece. Tonight also marks the regular-season opener for the Panthers. The team is coming off a strong preseason schedule that saw
them face two Division I opponents. They also collected an 88-57 home victory over College of the Bahamas in exhibition play. Fifteen Panthers saw action
versus Stetson on Nov. 2, but Tech fell 80-52 to the Hatters. Most recently, the team faced Florida International in Miami and played toe-to-toe with the
Golden Panthers in an exciting match-up. Despite Tech holding the lead four times in the first half, FIU defended its home court in the team’s opening game
and beat Tech 80-66. Justin Sedlak led all scorers with 20 points on the night. on the panthers Billy Mims returns four out of five
sarters from last year’s squad – six players who saw regular action. One of those includes senior co-captain E.J. Murray, last year’s conference-leading
scorer with 15.6 ppg. Also returning to the lineup is last year’s SSC Freshman of the Year candidate Justin Sedlak who averaged just over 10 points and 5.6
rebounds per contest. One player the Panthers will be without at the moment is redshirt freshman Paul Sturgess who suffered an ankle injry while playing in
the Stetson game. on UPR-Rio Piedras Florida Tech is not the only team with a veteran roster. The Gallitos boast five seniors and a
junior on their roster. They also have some height on their team, though the tallest player stands at 6-7 – a good foot shorter than Paul Sturgess and two
inches shy of the Panthers’ tallest starter. Tonight will mark the first game of the season for both Florida Tech and Rio Piedras.
