Florida Tech Emerges Victorious With First Conference Win 85-81

admin February 11, 2006

SAINT LEO, Fla.- The Florida Tech Panthers (4-19, 1-12) along with head coach Billy Mims finally mark their first Sunshine State Conference win tonight
coming back to defeat the Saint Leo Lions (7-17, 3-10) 85-81 at the Marion Bowman Center.

The “Three Musketeers” emerged again taking control of the game shooting the lights out at the arc tallying an impressive 68.2% three point percentage.
Sophomore E.J. Murray (Rockledge, Fla.), and seniors’ Brad Rich (Oviedo, Fla.) and Ryan Maultsby (Vero Beach, Fla.) made a repeat performance of their
earlier overtime loss against Rollins nearly two weeks ago combining for 64 of Tech’s points for the contest.

Against Rollins the threesome combined for 60 points nailing 16 three pointers in the second half. Tonight they each notched 14 from the arc with senior
Titas Vainauskas (Vilnius, Lithuania) adding the 15th for the final total.

Murray led the way with 28 points going 5-fo-9 from the arc and hit seven-out-eight from the charity stripe. Rich despite only grabbing 17 points was near
perfect for the night going five-for-five from the three point lien and six-for eight from the field in total. Rich also chipped in the game high seven
assists.

Sophomore center Jod Kelley led under the boards with seven rebounds and added three blocks. Vainauskas finished in the double figures with eleven points.

Defensively, the Lions out-rebounded the Panthers 42 to 31 not allowing Tech many second chance points with only five offensive rebounds. But tonight Tech
did not need many second chances hitting 52.7% from the field to Saint Leo’s 45.7%.

In the end Tech, was more together at the line making 12 of their 15 free chances with one of their best season’s free throw percentages at 80.0 %. Despite
the lead see-sawing ten times in the game with eight knotted points, the crimson and gray held onto the lead for the last seven minutes of the contest.

The Panthers return to action on Wednesday when they travel to St. Petersburg to face Eckerd College. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.