Panthers Go Down to the Mocs in the Remaining Minutes 69-66 in SSC Play

LAKELAND, Fla. (men’s basketball) – Despite an early 15 point lead, Tech failed to hold their lead as they allowed an 11 point run that eventually gave up
their lead as the Panthers failed to convert on the chance for the teams first SSC win of the season falling short to Florida Southern College 69-66.

Early on, Tech pounced on every opportunity shown to them and created what looked to be a non stop growing lead at 15 with the score at 24-9 at the 12:50
mark in the first half. The following three minutes turned the game upside down as the Mocs fought back going on an 11 point run to trail Tech by 3; 24-21
with 8:41 left in the half. Tech kept a four point lead till the Mocs tied the game at 32 apiece then took their first lead of the game two positions later
to mark the game at 36-35. The Mocs would go into half time leading 38-35 with momentum on their side.

Tech’s E.J. Murray (Rockledge, Fla.) and Jod Kelley (McCormick, S.C) combined to hit 11 field goals and 7 three pointers as they took charge scoring 29 of
the teams 35 first half points.

Starting the second half not happy the turn of events in the first half, the Panthers clawed their way back as they retook control of the game at the 10:34
mark and the lead at 55-50. With momentum swaying back on their side and time running low, Tech was close to their first SSC win of the season. What looked
like it was Florida Tech’s night early on in the game turned out to be Florida Southern’s night ending the game as the Mocs went on a 8-0 at the 4:17 mark
finishing the game with a final score of 69-66 as the Mocs earn their first SSC win of the season.

In the end, Murray and Kelley combined for 44 of the Panthers 66 points as both players scored 22 points apiece. Kelley hit the game high of 9 field goals
on 14 attempts while Murray hit 6 of 14; E.J. was three assists shy of a double-double as he dished out 7 assists on the night. Other top scoring came from
guard Arthur Richardson (Niceville, Fla.) who added 10 points on the game and Janko Mrksic (Stoney Creek, Ontario) who chipped in 6 points and grabbed 5
boards before fouling out of the game.

Tech has yet put together a win in the early stages of the SSC and now are 0-3 in the conference and 4-11 overall but have the opportunity against
Tampa University on Wednesday, January 10th at 7:30pm on their home court in the Clemente Center.

Newspaper Box Score
Florida Tech vs Florida Southern
01/06/07 7:30 pm at Lakeland, FL (Jenkins Field House)
At Lakeland, FL (Jenkins Field House)
FLORIDA SOUTHERN 69, FLORIDA TECH 66
FLORIDA TECH (4-11, 0-3)
MURRAY, EJ 6-14 6-6 22; KELLEY, Jod 9-14 0-0 22; RICHARDSON, Arthur 4-9 1-2
10; MRKSIC, Janko 3-4 0-1 6; McNALLY, Carl 0-5 2-2 2; PAROTTE, Edmond 1-1
0-0 2; SEDLAK, Justin 1-5 0-0 2; CLARK, Damien 0-3 0-0 0; ZELLER, Sean 0-2
0-0 0; BALLARD, Ryan 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-58 9-11 66.
FLORIDA SOUTHERN (5-7, 1-2)
GRAHAM, Will 6-9 4-8 16; GRANT, Andrei 6-16 3-6 15; ELDRIDGE, Rob 2-7 7-8
11; GIROD, Dominic 4-7 1-2 10; WILLIAMS, Braxton 2-10 0-2 6; McDONALD,
Brandon 2-6 0-0 5; HULL, Garrett 2-6 0-0 4; WOOTEN, Cameron 1-6 0-0 2.
Totals 25-67 15-26 69.
Florida Tech……………… 35 31 – 66
Florida Southern………….. 38 31 – 69
3-point goals–Florida Tech 9-27 (KELLEY, Jod 4-9; MURRAY, EJ 4-7;
RICHARDSON, Arthur 1-4; SEDLAK, Justin 0-2; ZELLER, Sean 0-1; McNALLY, Carl
0-4), Florida Southern 4-15 (WILLIAMS, Braxton 2-4; McDONALD, Brandon 1-5;
GIROD, Dominic 1-1; HULL, Garrett 0-1; ELDRIDGE, Rob 0-3; GRAHAM, Will 0-1).
Fouled out–Florida Tech-MRKSIC, Janko, Florida Southern-None.
Rebounds–Florida Tech 34 (SEDLAK, Justin 6), Florida Southern 51 (GRANT,
Andrei 10). Assists–Florida Tech 18 (MURRAY, EJ 7), Florida Southern 18
(ELDRIDGE, Rob 5). Total fouls–Florida Tech 20, Florida Southern 11.
Technical fouls–Florida Tech-None, Florida Southern-None. A-316